A quiet and growing problem is affecting homes across the country: the mounting reliance on full-time domestic workers to look after ageing parents.
Today, dual-income households are both common and necessary to make ends meet, given ever-rising housing, transport and living costs.
Many children, married or single, are unable to care for their ageing parents because of the nature and place of their work.
Yet hiring a domestic worker in Malaysia can begin with a substantial upfront cost of up to RM15,000 for a migrant domestic worker recruited through an appointed agency. Total initial outlays could sometimes reach about RM19,000 once levies, medical checks, insurance and other charges are included.
Much of this cost is paid to a private agency. Some agencies may even market their services in differently priced packages with varying benefits. It looks like a class structure, to say the least. One might almost think we were buying a product.
The monthly pay for these domestic workers is usually between RM1,500 and RM1,800.
With an ageing population and more children unable to care for their parents because of work, ordinary people face a serious dilemma.
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It has become a huge affordability concern.
A policy gap
The government has a big problem on its hands. Policy action is needed to avert a major social crisis.
Most working adults are left with an affordability problem and a moral dilemma when ageing, dependent parents need care.
Relying on foreign migrant labour is increasingly beyond the reach of most people in low and middle-income households.
Private care centres are either no cheaper or of questionable quality.
With dual incomes a necessity, families in Malaysia are in crisis mode over caring for ageing parents. Where parents have mobility problems or serious health conditions, finding a domestic worker or caregiver becomes an unresolved nightmare.
The Ministry of Social Welfare does not appear to be addressing this looming dilemma, which is expected to grow in the near term.
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has introduced some support measures, including home-help services, activity centres for older people, and financial assistance for eligible older people and bedridden chronic patients.
But these programmes do not appear sufficient to meet the scale of the looming care burden, which is expected to grow in the near term.
At some point, the rising cost of care risks escalating into a major social crisis.
It is time to address this nationally and with sincere urgency.
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
