Kerala Caregivers: Exploited Despite High Demand

Caregivers in Keralam are facing significant exploitation, despite the increasing demand for their services. Many work over 20 hours daily for wages as low as ₹18,000 to ₹22,000 per month, with a portion often going to agents. This crisis is driven by changing social patterns, where younger individuals migrate, leaving elderly parents in need of care. Home care agencies frequently exploit both workers and families by misrepresenting fees and service charges. The absence of formal employment contracts exacerbates the problem, with caregivers often burdened with additional household chores and denied proper rest or social security benefits. This informal sector operates without comprehensive regulation, leaving home nurses vulnerable to poor working conditions and inadequate compensation, highlighting an urgent need for government intervention and formalization of the sector.