How Other Countries Organise Care

How Nordic countries, East Asian economies and others provide childcare and eldercare, from public services to migrant domestic workers, and lessons for India.

Countries organise care very differently.

Nordic model

Sweden and Denmark provide extensive public childcare and eldercare, funded by taxes.
High female employment and generous parental leave shared between parents.

Japan’s long-term care insurance

Japan introduced long-term care insurance in 2000, funding eldercare services through mandatory contributions.

Migrant care workers

Hong Kong, Singapore and Gulf countries rely on migrant domestic workers from the Philippines, Indonesia, India and elsewhere.
This supports local women’s employment but raises rights concerns.

United States

Childcare is mostly private and expensive, a major cost for families.

Lessons for India

Public investment in childcare can raise women’s employment.
Insurance models could fund eldercare as India ages.
Worker protections matter wherever care is paid.

The Hong Kong helper

In Hong Kong, many families employ live-in helpers from the Philippines, allowing both parents to work long hours, while helpers send wages home.

Thinking every country organises care the same way

Models range from public services to private and migrant care.

Key takeaways

Nordic countries provide extensive public care.
Japan funds eldercare through insurance since 2000.
Some Asian and Gulf economies rely on migrant carers.
India can learn from public investment and insurance models.