This paper explores the position of unpaid labour in a globalising economy and its treatment within law and justice frameworks. It situates unpaid care and domestic work within the historical devaluation of women’s labour, from coverture in English common law to patriarchal family structures in India and beyond. The study examines how international instruments such as CEDAW, ILO conventions, and the Sustainable Development Goals engage with unpaid work, and how different jurisdictions – including Nordic states, Latin America, India, and Gulf countries under Shariah traditions – recognise or fail to recognise its value. It also considers the impact of globalisation, including the rise of care chains and the channeling of women into feminised sectors through education and migration. By foregrounding these dynamics, the paper raises questions about autonomy, recognition, and the meaning of empowerment in contexts where unpaid labour sustains both households and economies.