Dhaka’s working mothers are fueling an “invisible care economy” by paying neighbors and community members for childcare. This strategy allows low-income women, whose household earnings rely on factory or domestic work, to overcome the persistent lack of formal daycare. Many mothers pay BDT 500-3,000 monthly, enabling them to earn significantly more, revealing a clear economic value for trusted care. Experts emphasize that recognizing and formalizing this hidden market is crucial for boosting the national economy and increasing the country’s low female labor force participation rate.
Dhaka’s working mothers are fueling an “invisible care economy” by paying neighbors and community members for childcare. This strategy allows low-income women, whose household earnings rely on factory or domestic work, to overcome the persistent lack of formal daycare. Many mothers pay BDT 500-3,000 monthly, enabling them to earn significantly more, revealing a clear economic value for trusted care. Experts emphasize that recognizing and formalizing this hidden market is crucial for boosting the national economy and increasing the country’s low female labor force participation rate.
