As Asia rapidly ages, who cares for the carers when they grow old?
Asia’s care economy is booming, but its biggest supplier nations are ageing too, raising fears of a coming carer shortfall
Certified as a carer, she now freelances around Kuala Lumpur’s Klang Valley, earning up to 25 ringgit (US$6) an hour for round-the-clock shifts, with clients providing her meals, transport and housing.
“My former employer was very understanding and offered to release me earlier so I could earn a higher salary as a caregiver,” the 50-year-old said.
“A lot of caregivers from the Philippines come to Malaysia or Singapore to work for a while, before they relocate,” Bessie said, adding that, unlike so many others, she planned to stay put.
The region’s wealthier economies are now competing for a workforce that is thinning out as it moves around.
