Should maids be given a day off every week?

[bigsnoopy]

I know they don’t really owe money to the agent. They actually borrow money or sell their house or farm to pay to the agent first before coming to Singapore. So the agent will usually allow them to go back if they insist as no money is owed to the agent. The work permit worker just return home to face all the debts. So they will usually repay their all their debts (first) before wanting to go home.

[Angelight]

Yes, this is also the arrangement used by foreign maids who want to work in HK or Taiwan. They pay the agent lump sum to go HK or Taiwan to work. So they are likely to work hard and not play punk cos they will have alot to lose. And if they are fired, they will be sent back to their country, no such thing as transfer to another employer. I think Spore shld adopt the same policy so FDWs will be made accountable for their own actions. JMHO.

bigsnoopy:

I know they don't really owe money to the agent. They actually borrow money or sell their house or farm to pay to the agent first before coming to Singapore. So the agent will usually allow them to go back if they insist as no money is owed to the agent. The work permit worker just return home to face all the debts. So they will usually repay their all their debts (first) before wanting to go home.

[LOLMum]

i think for maids working in hong kong, they take a loan from a finance company in hong kong. the maids will pay the loan themselves and it is not passed on to the employer.


but day off on public holidays and each week is compulsory there.

[nms1]

LOLMum:

i think for maids working in hong kong, they take a loan from a finance company in hong kong. the maids will pay the loan themselves and it is not passed on to the employer.


but day off on public holidays and each week is compulsory there.

But then if they get fired, what happens to the loan? Who will pay it back?

[LOLMum]

nms1:

LOLMum:

i think for maids working in hong kong, they take a loan from a finance company in hong kong. the maids will pay the loan themselves and it is not passed on to the employer.


but day off on public holidays and each week is compulsory there.

But then if they get fired, what happens to the loan? Who will pay it back?

from what i know, most maids will finish their contracts then look for another job.

for those who are unable to, will have to seek employment in another household. but no matter what happens, the loan is still the maid's problem and not anyone else.

so most maids there will do their best to fulfill their contracts. but note the domestic maids organisation in hk is very vocal, strong influence and they have staged protests etc. and have sued employers successfully for ill-treatment, nonpayment of salary, overwork etc.

thus employers there also keep to their side of contract.

[jtoh]

I agree. Make the maids responsible for their actions, loans etc and they’ll want to work harder to pay off their loans. Right now the employers have to bear responsibility for their running away, pregnancy etc.

[mwchua]

I think the equation has to be fair and reasonable from both parties’ point of view.


Seriously, i am ok with giving maids higher pay (similar to HK and Taiwan) only if the playing field is also made similar or equal. E.g.
- maids have to know that there is no chance to tranfer, if they can’t make it, they will have to pay off whatever loans they incur;
- they need to be able to perform right from day 1, no more treating singapore as training ground;
- employers cannot make responsible for whatever mess they go into & do away with the security bond system.

The maids cannot have the cake & eat it too, get the pay similar to HK & Taiwan, yet got chance to transfer anyhow, & employers have to bear all the legal obligations!!

Similar to all other working arrangement, it’s all demand and supply. If maids not happy with the lower pay & off-day arrangement in Singapore, they can choose not to come here. However, when they go to other countries with "perceived" better working conditions, they must also go there with eyes wide-open & know the implications.

All of us yearn for high pay & easy work. But we also know that there is no such free lunch in this world !!

[jtoh]

Well said, mwchua.

[nms1]

jtoh:

I agree. Make the maids responsible for their actions, loans etc and they'll want to work harder to pay off their loans. Right now the employers have to bear responsibility for their running away, pregnancy etc.

I think the loans are really the major issue here as I think most employers have insurance for the bond and, to be honest, the number of maids (excluding abused maids) cannot be that high and most maids who get pregnant will go home before it is reported.

We are also assuming that giving them a day off resulting in them getting into trouble. There are 1000s of them who have days off and don't get into any trouble at all. My current maid takes two days off but usually comes back early because she's got nothing to do. She just needs a few hours break to herself.

[Pen88n]

I am totally for the idea of having off-days for maids, but the employer should not be made responsible for maid’s actions / personal issue. Neither should the employer bear any financial loss (to buy airticket etc.) for maid who needs to be sent back due to misconduct, bad performance, bad behaviour, etc. The current situation is that employers have little choice as there are financial impact whenever they change maid (have to pay agent fee, airticket, etc.), or maid gets into trouble (pregnant, run away, moon-lighting, etc.).


It is not a fair comparison to our terms of employment with that of the maid. Our company employers do not need to pay guarantee for our conduct. They can give us a month notice for bad performance / conduct without having to pay air ticket or agent fee again to get another employee. If the govt allows for employer not being responsible for maid’s conduct or suffer any financial impact for their misconduct, employers can definitely be more relax and allow for off-days.