The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore has insisted that a study claiming six out of 10 foreign domestic workers are exploited by their employers is misleading.
A survey, conducted by the independent research consultancy Research Across Borders, found that of 735 Filipino and Indonesian respondents, 60% identified themselves as exploited. They cited poor living conditions, excessive work hours, salary deductions and violence from their employers. The survey was conducted in Lucky Plaza and other locations.
Research Across Borders also lamented that foreign domestic workers are excluded from the Employment Act. Under the provisions of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, they do not receive the same legal protections or medical coverage as other residents.
The MOM said in a statement on Friday, however, that the study painted a misleading picture as it did not consider the “unique nature” of domestic work. It also said it conducts its own regular surveys to better understand the employment conditions and welfare of foreign domestic workers in Singapore.
According to a survey of 1,000 respondents conducted by the ministry in 2015, 97% said they were satisfied with working in Singapore, 76% intended to continue working in Singapore after their contracts had expired, 79% would recommend Singapore as a place to work, and 97% said their workload was either just right or that they could handle more.
The MOM also iterated that the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act requires employers to provide prompt salaries, proper food, rest days, compensation, medical care and safe working conditions for their domestic workers. Employers who violate the law may face fines and jail terms, and can be banned from hiring foreign domestic workers in the future.
As of June 2017, Singapore has 243,000 foreign domestic workers.
I’m referring this to MOM…u have this policy to get an off days ones a week right? And if the employer will ask the maid to work during off days they should pay right?and it’s very cleared to all the employers about this policy but ,why there are more maids are struggling to get an off days every week??and most of the employer who are not following this policy is Singaporean employer….is there any solustion of this issues?my neighbor their Sri Lankan maid she only get off ones a month sometimes nothing at all,but never paid at all.and during her sickness time she needs to pay what ever medical including the 6months medical check up….I really do appreciate u come up to survey about the situation of the maids here in Singapore…and I wish my neighbor Sri Lankan maid get an off days every week just like what I have…thank u sooo much…
She dont need to pay any of it coz as far as i know that kind of thing is her employers responsibility to pay for her medical check up.
Yes..mom should highlight this concern.i for one is the best example.work 16 years for my employer and yet i still don’t get the weekly off days and i dont get compensated.im not comfortable bringing up the issue to my employer coz im afraid that she will get offended.
Eillen Rose Griño Fetiza
Yes, but sad to say that her Singaporean employer refuse to pay for her…actually the employer knew it that the medical bills are their responsibility ,but they don’t care becouse poor lady she don’t have much knowledge due to low education that’s why they do like this…
Can we also punish maid agencies if the maids they brought in are caught with falsified medical reports…because of lack of strict vetting!??
Maids are not struggling to get days off…they are given off days and this is a false accusation..just see the huge number of maids hanging out with other migrant workers on weekends! Most maids also are goofing off on work days because the boss is away at work and no one is watching them…!
If maids from Philipines are unreasonably accusing employers of unfair treatments..look elsewhere….!
I would say My neighbor Sri Lankan is just unlucky even my employer is curious about her ,situation we are just one compound leaving in different houses Soo my employer can also observe…my biggest concern is her resting time becouse she is not young anymore she is almost 50 yrs old????.but becouse of poverty she needs to work????
Hi Ma’am it is true what you have said about day off, I my self I have one off day,When I ask additional off My employer voice raised . Should the MOM will survey too the employers they should send them a survey paper if necessary.
Really Hazel Mani? Ive got every sundays and ph holiday off but still going out during weekdays. And my boss don’t care as long everything are ok in the house. Means lots of FREEDOM I have and never abuse it. Most employer treat their helper like their slave and we know who are this people doing this????????????????
Hazel Mani i am also one of those struggling gor an off day. I work with my employer for almost 9yrs already but until now no permanent off day and never pay my sundays
Hazel Mani you don’t see the other side of the world for some fdw’s. Not all helpers go out on weekdays when no one is watching,don’t generalize all helpers,ok. Infact one of my neighbor is struggling to get her offday until now!!!!! If she tries to ask for it her employer said "NO!COZ ALL OF MY HELPERS DON’T HAVE OFFDAY EVERSINCE" what the f…