The office of FAST at Jalan Bukit Merah in Singapore. Photo: Google Maps
The office of FAST at Jalan Bukit Merah in Singapore. Photo: Google Maps

A former executive director of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) has called for greater empathy for foreign domestic workers and their contributions.

Former CASE executive director Seah Seng Choon, now 65, with four like-minded friends founded the Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (FAST) 12 years ago, Lianhe Wanbao (Singapore) reported. He is president of the association.

Seah recalled when he hired an 18-year-old Filipino woman who went on to serve his family for a decade, helping raise his three children.

He said the family would discuss her daily routine and make the best possible arrangements for her needs, and they always treated her as a member of the family, sharing the same food and mealtimes.

Once Seah’s children grew into their teens, their maid was then recommended to his elder brother’s family, where she now has served for more than 20 years.

As the father of a son and two daughters, Seah said he often thought of how women like that Filipino had to make sacrifices and be separated from their own loved ones so as to earn money for their whole family.

FAST was established to help maids adapt to their new environment as well as to fight for their rights if they encounter any unfair treatment.

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