According to the ELSI-Brazil (2018) study, out of the total caregivers interviewed (n=828), 25.8% reported stopping working or studying to perform this role, and only 9.2% were paid (non-family members or family members) (Giacomin et al., 2018).

References:

Giacomin, K. C., Duarte, Y. A. O., Camarano, A. A., Nunes, D. P., & Fernandes, D. (2018). Care and functional disabilities in daily activities – ELSI-Brazil. Rev. Saúde Pública, 52(Suppl 2). https://doi.org/10.11606/S1518-8787.2018052000650

All foreign domestic helpers are working in a full-time mode and are living in the households of the employer. The Statutory Minimum Allowable Wage (effective from 29 September 2018) is HK$4,520 per month with food provision (HKSAR Government, 2019c).

About local domestic helpers, little is known about their socio-economic status. The Employee Retraining Board, a statutory body in Hong Kong, has issued guidelines and suggested wages for hiring local domestic helpers. The suggested rate is HK$85 – 105 per hour for ‘Escort for Out-patient visits’ and ‘Elderly Care for Elderly with self-care ability’, and HK$90 or above ‘for Elderly without self-care ability’. Each service session is suggested to last for at least 3 hours (Employee Retraining Board, 2019).

References:

Employee Retraining Board. (2019). Reference Wages of Smart Helpers. . Hong Kong: Employee Retraining Board, HKSAR Retrieved from https://www.erb.org/smartliving/download/suggested_wages_en.pdf.

HKSAR Government. (2019c, 28 September 2018). Press Releases – Minimum Allowable Wage and food allowance for foreign domestic helpers to increase. Retrieved from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201809/28/P2018092800357.htm

This section to be updated soon.

In a 2017 study conducted in Maluku, 74.5% of all family caregivers of people with dementia were women, 49% had high school as the last education attainment, 50.6% with monthly income of more than Rp1,2 million, and all were Muslim. The most common occupation was farmer (43,7%) (International Labour Organization (ILO), n.d.-b). According to ILO, the majority of Indonesian domestic workers work for 6 or 7 days in a week. 71% of adult domestic helpers and 61% of young domestic helpers (aged 10-17 years old) work this number of days. There are more female domestic helpers than men. In 2008, there were 320 female domestic workers for every 100 males. In 2015, there were 292 women to 100 men (International Labour Organization (ILO), n.d.-b). We are unable to provide further information regarding the socio-economic status of domestic or other informal care workers.

References:

International Labour Organization (ILO). (n.d.-b). Pekerja Rumah Tangga Di Indonesia.

Informal care workers (untrained and often given the role of taking care of a person with dementia) who are commonly known as house managers, earn the least salary among employees of all ranks (Venas News, 2019). Most informal workers in high end homes are degree holders while those in the capital or informal settlements are either primary or secondary school leavers who dropped out of school or were unable to afford tertiary education.

References:

Venas News. (2019). Salary of a Maid/House help in Kenya 2019. VENASNEWS, 24 Janyary. Nairobi, Kenya. https://venasnews.co.ke/2019/01/24/salary-of-a-maidhouse-help-in-kenya-2019/

No data available as no disaggregated data on carers, whom they care for, and the type/intensity of care provided has been gathered.

Those providing care are:

• More likely to receive government assistance and less likely to receive income from other sources.
• Hold similar qualifications to the NZ population and are more likely to have higher skilled occupations.
• More likely to not work or work part-time, which accounts for most of the income gap.
• Women are more likely to reduce hours than men.
• Co-residential carers are less likely to be in paid employment.
• Households earn ~10% less (Welfare Expert Advisory Group, 2019; Grimmond, 2014).

References:

Grimmond D. (2014). The economic value and impacts of informal care in New Zealand. New Zealand Infometrics. Available from: https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/auckland/about-us/equity-at-the-university/equity-information-staff/information-for-carers/The%20economic%20value%20of%20informal%20care%20in%20New%20Zealand%20Final%20copy.pdf.

Welfare Expert Advisory Group. (2019). Current state: Carers of people with health conditions or disabilities. Wellington: Welfare Expert Advisory Group. Available from: http://www.weag.govt.nz/assets/documents/WEAG-report/background-documents/9513d6b9b0/Carers-of-HCD-010419.pdf.

The findings of the 10/66 Dementia Research group indicate that caregivers are often required to give up formal, paid employment in order to care for their family member on a full time basis, with resulting financial strain, stress and family poverty (Kalula & Petros, 2011). Giving up formal employment to care for a family member (unpaid) or being appointed as an informal carer (paid), leads to these carers remaining at a lower socio-economic status.

References:

Kalula, S. Z., & Petros, G. (2011). Responses to Dementia in Less Developed Countries with a focus on South Africa. Global Aging, 7(1), 31–40.