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Justice and global care chains: Lessons from Singapore
Author(s) -
Jecker Nancy S.,
Chin Jacqueline JoonLin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
developing world bioethics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.398
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1471-8847
pISSN - 1471-8731
DOI - 10.1111/dewb.12213
Subject(s) - dignity , economic justice , human rights , business , developing country , economic growth , political science , economics , law
Growing demand for direct care workers to assist care‐dependent elderly people has created an opening for migrant workers from low‐ income nations to sell their services to middle and high‐income nations. Using Singapore as a case example, we draw on capability theory to make the case that receiving nations that import direct care workers should be held to global justice standards that protect workers’ floor level human capabilities. Specifically, we (1) show that Singapore and other receiving nations fail to protect human capabilities at a threshold level required by dignity; (2) identify specific human capabilities placed at risk; and (3) recommend standards for receiving nations that support central capabilities. As populations in both developed and developing nations are rapidly aging, these concerns could not be timelier.