Two Singaporean non-governmental organizations have submitted a joint independent report to the United Nations highlighting the unsatisfactory employment terms and working conditions faced by many foreign domestic workers in the city-state due to substandard protection by local laws.
The Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) charged that domestic workers were not protected by the Employment Act, Singapore’s main labor law, Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore) reported on the weekend.
At present, there are around 240,000 women from Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and other countries working as maids in Singapore. As they do not enjoy the same protections under the Employment Act as other types of workers, maids are often exploited by their employers, who force them to work long hours and deny them statutory holidays, annual leave or paid sick leave.
Though the government has mandated one day off a week for maids, many see their rest days canceled, as the authorities also allow employers to pay maids extra to work on their days off. Many women who owe their employment agencies money for job referrals give up their rest days for more wages in the hopes of settling their debts sooner.
According to HOME, many maids who seek assistance from the NGO earn around S$350 to S$650 (US$257-US$477) a month. If they are working more than 13 hours daily, some of them are making less than S$2 an hour.
In addition, at present maids are not permitted to change employers unless their bosses sign an agreement for them. In other words, foreign women are left almost no choices between accepting poor terms of employment or even violence from their bosses, or being sent back to their home countries.
I agree because some employers don’t care about the agreement of MOM some working for more than 10years here do you believe the salary only 500$the MOM should look out for this because the poor maid couldn’t say anything to the boss that can you please increase my salary.
Yes that’s true. Less salary and long hours work. Off day only counted 6 hours and need to rush back home. Too sad we don’t have choice but to pursue doing such sane routine.
Who can help and protect us?
Can we request for a LONG SERVICE payment as well since we serve such a long long time to our Boss?And a MANDATORY BUNOSES???Why plenty of us doesn’t have those since we are already a veteran workers to our Bosses?
Hope UN can look into this…Thanks
Me , i dont have ofF day ,!
so sad????????
Mom should do something for it… Helpers work 14hours to 17 or 18hour or more than that.. During off day you go out late come back 7or early and immediately do work… Please any action.. Hope helpers send complain to mom about salary and rest day so they do action for those helpers untreated well…
Im related to this ..cleaning relative house 2x a week and they pay me $80 a month..
Im under paid bcoz they just let me off once a month.salary 500 and the 3 sunday day pay me just $50.. 1 month my salary only $550
I thought singaporean are generous …hahahaaa
Yes that’s true some employers here in Singapore are not following the rules given by the MOM. In my situation, I’m taking care of a bedridden old man ages 80 years but my salary is only S$580 and have only once a month offday. We all know that taking care of elderly is not an easy job, all we want is even we are only FDW is we want a better or higher salary
Yes it is true I’m working 18hrs Everyday and once a month off with the salary of 650$ , it’s so hard even if your off day they calling you to come early.. and before you going out for off you have to clean first,, and if cane back home start work again .. it’s is not called a rest day or off coz your still working
Hopefully they were address that scenarios, that they really have to put a strong demand for it, specially for the send back cases or transfer, even they are finished contract they still don’t have choice if they don’t want to renew to that employer, it is very unfair for us
Why it is so difficult for the employer’s to give that referral and release papers,
And have employers also that they bring there maid in other place to to work in there other house..example…they r staying here in Singapore but they also have house in Malaysia they bring there maid in Malaysia to do general house work there also…all I know this is against the law..am I right?
Like me here in Singapore now I’m almost two years working for 2 houses
I from Indonesia, i also don’t have off day but my employer pay for day off, everyday don’t even going out at all 24 hour stay at home, only went Saturday or Sunday my employer bring me go out with the family
The MOM should survey also the employers if they are really giving complete off for the maids and other benefits and have to be signed by employer and maid .