A/HRC/40/31 labour, States would promote the concept of shared family responsibility for work in the home, particularly in relation to children and care of older persons. 26. In addition to changing the gender-based division of work, State policies directed at addressing women’s unpaid work should be anchored in social protection and the recognition of the value of unpaid care work. 23 27. According to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the right to work calls upon States to develop a comprehensive system of protection to ensure equal opportunities and treatment between men and women in relation to their right to work, including by ensuring equal pay for equal work. 24 In particular, the reproductive role of women should never constitute an obstacle to employment nor a justification for losing employment. For example, it would be important to transfer the coverage of paid maternity leave to the social security system or public funds, in order to combat the preferential recruitment of men on the basis of the perceived cost of recruiting women of childbearing age,25 including young women. 28. According to article 7 of the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, decent work provides an income that allows workers to support themselves and their families. The prevalence of working poverty among youth, often trapped in low paid shortterm contracts or in the informal sector, signals a persistent problem. Much more effort must be made to ensure decent work for youth that includes a fair wage, safe and healthy working conditions and access to adequate social security. 29. As outlined by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, all workers should be protected against age discrimination. Young workers should not be forced to accept a lower remuneration that does not reflect their skills, because they are young. 26 States should make sure that the minimum wages are sufficient to enable the workers and their families to enjoy other rights, such as social security, health care, education and an adequate standard of living, food, water and sanitation, housing, clothing and additional expenses, such as commuting costs.27 30. The standard United Nations’ definition of youth (between 15 and 24 years old) includes adolescents. States must adopt specific policies directed at protecting adolescents against all forms of labour and exploitation or violence that could interfere in their education, development and health. This includes minimum age requirements for entering into the labour market and the appropriate regulation of hours and conditions of work. 31. The Committee on the Rights of the Child emphasized that the right to exercise increasing levels of responsibility in line with adolescents’ evolving capacities does not obviate States’ obligations to guarantee protection. In fact, gradual emergence from the protection of the family, together with relative inexperience and a lack of power, can make adolescents vulnerable to violations of their rights. States have to provide a balance between respect for the evolving capacities of adolescents and appropriate levels of protection. This includes considering a range of factors affecting their decision-making, the level of risk involved, the potential for exploitation, grasping adolescent development, recognition that competence and understanding may develop at a different pace in different areas and recognition of individual experience and capacity. 28 23 24 25 26 27 28 6 This approach has been framed by Diane Elson as the “triple R”: recognize, reduce and redistribute. See Diane Elson, “The three Rs of unpaid work: recognition, reduction and redistribution”, presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Unpaid Work, Economic Development and Human Well-Being, United Nations Development Programme in 2008. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 18, para. 13. A/HRC/34/29, para. 29. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 23, para. 47 (b). Ibid., para. 18. Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 20 (2016) on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence, paras. 18–20.