The Global Cost of Care: Overseas Domestic Work, Family Separation, and Economic Lifelines

Millions of women from developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, work abroad as domestic workers, providing care for employers' children while their own are raised by relatives. This practice contributes to high levels of female workforce participation in economies such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which have outsourced domestic labor since the 1970s.

Governments in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia have historically encouraged citizens to work abroad to foster economic development and reduce unemployment.

Statistical Context

A 2023 survey by the Philippines Statistics Agency indicated that approximately 2 million Filipinos work overseas, primarily in Asia and the Middle East, with 64 percent of these workers being women in domestic labor roles. In 2024, overseas workers sent over $56 billion to the Philippines, constituting 8.7 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Indonesian workers remitted $22.4 billion home, accounting for 1.1 percent of its GDP.

Personal Experiences of Separation

The separation resulting from overseas domestic work significantly impacts families.

Yoga Prasetyo: The 'Left-Behind' Child

Yoga Prasetyo was raised by his aunt in Indonesia while his mother worked in Singapore for 25 years. He initially struggled to connect with her, knowing her only from photographs. Communication evolved from monthly landline calls to mobile phones and video calls, which facilitated a closer relationship. However, the emotional effects included a sense of absence, notably during school recognition events.

Yoga initially struggled to connect with his mother, knowing her only from photographs.

Rohimah: The Mother's Sacrifice

Rohimah, a single mother, began working as a domestic worker in Singapore in 2007, leaving her two-year-old son in Indonesia. She later returned to work again when her second son was six months old. She reported difficulties, including her sons initially refusing to speak to her or be carried by her during visits. Her primary motivation was to provide financial support and a university education for her children, which led her to avoid childcare roles abroad.

Her primary motivation was to provide financial support and a university education for her children, which led her to avoid childcare roles abroad.

Agnes Sardia Tono: A Mother Divided

Agnes Sardia Tono, a single mother from the Philippines, has worked in Singapore for 23 years, caring for her employer's four children since the eldest was born 14 years ago. She stated that she treats them "as mine" and expressed missing daily interactions with her own son, now 25 and attending university. She experienced similar initial rejections from her son during childhood visits.

Economic Benefits and Challenges

Women interviewed reported earning four to five times what they would make in their home countries, enabling them to become the main financial providers for their families. This income supports family house renovations, daily expenses, bills, school fees, and healthcare. Despite the financial security, workers often face difficult decisions, such as Agnes's dilemma about whether to move with her employer's family to the United States or remain in Singapore until her son graduates, due to her attachment to the children she cares for.

This income supports family house renovations, daily expenses, bills, school fees, and healthcare.

Advocacy and Future Outlook

Advocating for Migrant Workers

Yoga Prasetyo's experience as a "left-behind" child has informed his career as a research assistant and advocate for migrant workers. He observes that parenting from afar can lead to a relationship of "equal companionship" rather than a traditional parent-child caregiving dynamic. He points to the "discriminatory" lack of permanent migration prospects and family reunification opportunities for migrant workers compared to "expatriates." He also criticizes calls for local communities to "collectively" look after children, suggesting it perpetuates the migration system that separates families.

Parenting from afar can lead to a relationship of "equal companionship" rather than a traditional parent-child caregiving dynamic.

A Future of Persistent Labor Flows

Lan Anh Hoang, a professor in development studies at the University of Melbourne, suggests that sending countries are in a position to demand improved protection and entitlements for their workers. The Philippines is noted as the only country that has successfully negotiated a minimum wage for its migrant workers. Receiving countries are likely to compromise to secure a willing labor force and maintain their international reputation. Professor Hoang anticipates that this labor flow, often involving the transference of care from poorer to richer economies, will persist due to aging populations, with childcare demands potentially shifting to elderly care needs.

Despite the challenges of indefinite family separation, Professor Hoang emphasizes the necessity of these labor flows for rural women in developing countries.