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$2 an hour.
In addition, at present maids are not permitted to change employers unless their bosses sign an agreement for them. In other words, foreign women are left almost no choices between accepting poor terms of employment or even violence from their bosses, or being sent back to their home countries.
I’m wors I only Hav once a month off d and also i only can go out half d only.my salary S 550$ and d pay my off d 50$ so additional 50$ bcum 600$ a month but god S good my employer d treated me very wll
Yeah, it’s very true. Most household workers from Taiwan and Hongkong are well protected by Labor Laws. The houdehold worker has absolute right to terminate their contract if they find the work abusive and not following what stated in the Employment Contract. Sad to say but most employers in Malaysia and Singapore are just ignoring the right of the worker.
YES True!
Yes right.. many maids wanna change employer becos unhappy with her boss.. no handphone no offday no ralk with others.. n being slave everyday.. she said wveryday get insulted n scolded.. but instead her employer direct sent her to country.. wont give her chance to change boss n working here for her living.. my heart really pain saw her.. but i cannot do anything to help her
What about the other country like malaysia. The policy there so terible. No day off small salary no handphone slep 5 hours to 6 hours. Where is the justice????? Hope the philippine goverment do something about this.
Mom should give a memo to all employers about there rules for the maid because many employers don’t follow the mom rules. ……n mom must tell to all employer to allow there maid go out if holiday……….
sometimes 18hrs straight work, no rest at all…
.. That’s too sad like me.. I only have 1 off day a month.. And my salary only SG$580 I agree that to my employer but the saddest thing is I only have one off day a month but still I need to work before leaving the house and need to go back home early because i will cook dinner.. I didn’t really enjoy my off day or should I say (off hours only) not really one day off.. ????????????????
True I join to this family since 2004 until now my salary only 600$
But before I sign the contract fom MOM I read every re contract have 10% increase and my off day every week only starting 2014
And i have friend indonesia,she stay in her employer 6yrs ready,she can’t take off every sunday,if Hariraya they give her to off only 1yr 1time,sunday they can’t pay also how come some employer they can’t follow the govermert policy
Yes its true i have friend also Filipino,2yrs she stay in her employer but can’t take off day in sunday,now she want going back home ready but she cant see the nice place here in SG
I wish that SINGAPORE can do the same in Hk and Taiwan….
its true. sometimes when u go back from off. bu need to clean the house.
And also not paid..
No..its $600 minimum for Filipino
Other race no idea
Yes work 16-17 hours and during off day must help before go and return home 5pm and takecare of child… i only tske once off day. And salary 550 then paid 20 forevery sunday that i didnt off
Not true that 500 is the absolute minimum. HOME still sees cases, though it is rare, of fdws being paid 350
I start to work with my boss since 2010 but until now i have only 1x off day.
No, you are entitled to days off http://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-domestic-worker/employers-guide/rest-days-and-well-being
All holders of WPs issued or renewed after 2013 are entitled to the days off.
Can i ask some question…I’m alrearedy 8 yrs to my employer now..but my off day is only 1x month..they told me i am not cover by the every sunday off day..is it right this?