Filipino caregiver chooses to stay in Malaysia despite regional competition for thinning workforce
Quick Look
A 50-year-old Filipino certified carer freelances in Kuala Lumpur's Klang Valley, earning up to 25 ringgit per hour with clients providing meals, transport and housing, choosing to stay in Malaysia while many peers relocate after temporary work in Malaysia or Singapore, amid regional competition for a dwindling caregiver workforce.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Many Filipino caregivers work temporarily in Malaysia or Singapore before relocating elsewhere, but Bessie has chosen to remain in Malaysia despite regional competition for a thinning caregiver workforce.
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.
Open Questions
- What factors influenced Bessie's decision to stay in Malaysia long-term?
- How significant is the caregiver workforce shortage in Malaysia and Singapore?
- What specific measures are wealthier economies in the region taking to attract caregivers?
