Quoted in Digital Straits Times

Remember the letter i wrote to ST Forum about the lack of protections for employers of FDWs in Singapore?

Well, i found bits of it quote here:

Maid transfer loophole penalises employers

I AGREE with Mr Loke Kok Wai's letter last Wednesday, 'In all fairness, protect employers too'.

One of my maids who came on a transfer started well in the first month. Subsequently, she became defiant and after six months we were compelled to send her back to the agency. She went shopping without informing us. She was unapologetic when we questioned her and was even brazen enough to say she was dismissed by her previous employers because she took their child out without seeking their permission.

When we sent her back to the agency, she said she did not want to work anymore. The agency said that she could not get a transfer because of her attitude, we would have to pay for her lodging and return airfare. In addition, during this period, we are still liable for the levy and her security bond.

To end our nightmare, we decided to bear the cost of her repatriation and sent her home immediately. But she is likely to return to Singapore, claim that she has even more experience and demand a higher pay.

When I e-mailed the Ministry of Manpower to bar such maids with poor records from returning to Singapore, the reply I received was: 'The ministry will only be able to place a worker on an employment ban if she is charged and found guilty of an offence under our law, including offences under the Penal Code and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.'

In short, a recalcitrant maid cannot be prevented from working in Singapore again unless innocent lives are lost or properties are damaged deliberately. That also means the employers must suffer a loss before the authorities will respond. I appeal to the ministry to look into this matter. Currently, the balance of protection is definitely skewed towards the maids.

Chan Sook Yee (Ms)

Employers deserve better

'We deserve better than to be on the losing end every time an errant maid gets pregnant, does her job badly, steals our money or breaks her contract prematurely.'

MS VANESSA TEO: 'Recently, the Ministry of Manpower made it compulsory for employers to buy medical insurance for their maids. As maids are now covered by medical insurance, employers should no longer be held responsible for all other health, medical or dental costs that their maids incur. This would not only be fairer to the employer, but also prevent the maid from taking unfair advantage of her employer. Second, it is time to implement laws to protect employers. We deserve better than to be on the losing end every time an errant maid gets pregnant, does her job badly, steals our money or breaks her contract prematurely.'