Twelve-year-old Saktha Naresh(ph) works as a Dhobi for part of the day, but he's also in school.

NPR: Mumbai's Dhobi Toil With Laundry

Most of those working in what count as service jobs across Asia lead less modern and productive lives: shopkeepers, rickshaw-pullers, foot-masseuses, security guards, barbers, road-sweepers, dhobi-wallahs, lift attendants, rubbish-pickers and so on.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

As long as Ren is around, there will be at least one Dhobi at work since he isn't likely to have enough money to retire unless his children get one of those high-tech jobs and support him in his old age.

NPR: Mumbai's Dhobi Toil With Laundry