Ageing Asia needs domestic helpers, but can it keep them safe?

In March last year, Erica Cheong and her husband, Harris Zainol, welcomed their firstborn son, Isaac. Like many new Malaysian parents living and working in Kuala Lumpur, the couple found the transition to parenthood overwhelming.

“We needed someone to help care for the baby, given that my parents are elderly and my in-laws work full time,” Cheong told This Week in Asia.

After speaking to friends who have employed domestic helpers, the couple, both 35, decided that doing the same was their best option. Within weeks, the two consultants found an Indonesian helper who now looks after their son and does basic household chores.

“She has become an invaluable part of our family, offering care, companionship and most importantly, peace of mind,” said Cheong, who is taking a break from work to care for her son.

Families such as Cheong’s, ageing populations and falling birth rates are driving the surge in demand for helpers across Asia.