Should maids be given a day off every week?
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verykiasu2010:
As i understand from what is reported in the press, the maid's day off is indeed a big sticking point.
I do not think the ILO pressure is on off day per se. Look at what is reported today about 400+ workers squeezed into dormitory meant for only 215. That is the main issue, and things like that.
This is not an argument for imprisoning the maid as some forumers like to claim. It is simply wrong that in a free market an employer cannot be free make a mutually acceptable agreement with the maid. Worse than a communist government or a police state.
Many free market nations have laws that govern how contracts can be written. If a law is passed that constrains what an employer can ask of a maid, it is a labour law, not communism, and in the case of Singapore, if passed, will merely bring us in line with the majority of free market economies. The rules already apply under the Employment act anyway, for the majority of workmen, and nobody calls that communism, yes?
As I indicated earlier, not everything (or contract) can be on a willing-buyer, willing seller basis, some rules need to be in place, like the employment act, extended to maids, for instance. And I say again, it is not communism, and it is not wrong. I think anyone with responsibility for running an organisation or managing staff will hopefully understand that. -
SMH FOREST:
Indeed I have.....it is the same coin, just 2 sides. But that's not the same as skewing or distorting.
Why I say skewed? It's becos my points were taken to prove your point. -
I have no issue with giving maids a day off. Like most people, however, I do have an issue with making it a blanket rule.
My husband and I work 5-1/2 days a week and we have 2 children. There are two sets of grandparents whom we visit & run errands for on the weekends. I did not have a maid up until about 2-1/2 years ago, when it became too expensive to send my children to after-school care. Plus I got really sick as I was working full-time + doing housework + taking care of my kids 24/7. Yes, maybe there is a whole world of people out there who can cope. But at that time, I could not, and having an extra pair of hands gave me room to breathe. My ex-maid had one day off per month + time off during other days to run her own errands like going to the bank, etc. The one day off started out as 9am to 5pm (though agent told me 9am - 3pm). Towards the end of the two years, she never came back before 7pm, and quite a few times after 9.30pm. When I questioned her and told her to give me a call if she were to return late, she gave me black face. I did not renew the contract when the 2 years were up.
My mother-in-law is wheelchair-bound and senile. She has a maid, but with no days off. It is easy to say, have a family member look after her for a day. We visit her on Sunday but regrettably, none of hubby’s siblings do. So do I give up my only day with my children, so that the maid can have a day off? Truthfully, I am not that magnanimous. And what kind of mother would that make me, that I don’t even spend time with my own children? My MIL’s maid wheels my MIL downstairs twice a day to chit chat with other maids. She also has a boyfriend whom she meets frequently. We turn a blind eye to all that as long as my MIL is taken care of.
Yes, there are people who can cope. Old folks in many countries stay in retirement villages, but the culture here is different. My MIL may be senile, but we know that she wants to live in (and eventually pass away) in her own home. Thus, we continue paying for 2 maids (ours & hers) even though it is a big financial burden.
Just the day before, we decided to terminate our contract with our new maid of 7 months. I do not think I am too fussy, but I do draw the line when she likes nothing better than to make instant noodles for my children, tells me that cooking is time-consuming and sleeps the whole afternoon away. My elder dd is in P5, and I told her that after school, she would have to be home alone and take care of meimei. I am blessed with a wonderful neighbour whom I know will keep an eye on the 2 of them in the afternoon, but I know not everybody is as fortunate.
No two persons – and how they cope with life – are the same. Let the day-off issue be an arrangement between employer and employee. I choose to believe that most employers in Singapore are fair, and will do what is right. -
3Boys:
There is actually no labour law for professionals to have a day off every weekend. It depends on your job nature and your company's goodwill to ensure there are enough staff to cover the duties.
As i understand from what is reported in the press, the maid's day off is indeed a big sticking point.verykiasu2010:
I do not think the ILO pressure is on off day per se. Look at what is reported today about 400+ workers squeezed into dormitory meant for only 215. That is the main issue, and things like that.
This is not an argument for imprisoning the maid as some forumers like to claim. It is simply wrong that in a free market an employer cannot be free make a mutually acceptable agreement with the maid. Worse than a communist government or a police state.
Many free market nations have laws that govern how contracts can be written. If a law is passed that constrains what an employer can ask of a maid, it is a labour law, not communism, and in the case of Singapore, if passed, will merely bring us in line with the majority of free market economies. The rules already apply under the Employment act anyway, for the majority of workmen, and nobody calls that communism, yes?
As I indicated earlier, not everything (or contract) can be on a willing-buyer, willing seller basis, some rules need to be in place, like the employment act, extended to maids, for instance. And I say again, it is not communism, and it is not wrong. I think anyone with responsibility for running an organisation or managing staff will hopefully understand that.
For example, even as teachers should rightfully have weekend off, they spend such time marking and preparing work. When their students get into trouble, they have to make time to help such students.
yes, i agree in principle the law if passed will bring us somewhat in line with the free market economies; only i am inclined to think that it is restrictive as well to the diversity of families we have that employ DHs. -
3Boys:
and who says passing a labour becomes communism? your way of twisted illogical deduction of other people say needs to be examined in IMH and you deliberately takes thing out of context. it makes me really stupid to want to reply this post. but anyway many of us are already stupid enough to believe in many excuses cooked up by the maids.....and to be stupid one more to reply you is still okay.
As i understand from what is reported in the press, the maid's day off is indeed a big sticking point.verykiasu2010:
I do not think the ILO pressure is on off day per se. Look at what is reported today about 400+ workers squeezed into dormitory meant for only 215. That is the main issue, and things like that.
This is not an argument for imprisoning the maid as some forumers like to claim. It is simply wrong that in a free market an employer cannot be free make a mutually acceptable agreement with the maid. Worse than a communist government or a police state.
Many free market nations have laws that govern how contracts can be written. If a law is passed that constrains what an employer can ask of a maid, it is a labour law, not communism, and in the case of Singapore, if passed, will merely bring us in line with the majority of free market economies. The rules already apply under the Employment act anyway, for the majority of workmen, and nobody calls that communism, yes?
As I indicated earlier, not everything (or contract) can be on a willing-buyer, willing seller basis, some rules need to be in place, like the employment act, extended to maids, for instance. And I say again, it is not communism, and it is not wrong. I think anyone with responsibility for running an organisation or managing staff will hopefully understand that. -
icemochi:
There is actually no labour law for professionals to have a day off every weekend. It depends on your job nature and your company's goodwill to ensure there are enough staff to cover the duties.
As i understand from what is reported in the press, the maid's day off is indeed a big sticking point.3Boys:
[quote=\"verykiasu2010\"]
I do not think the ILO pressure is on off day per se. Look at what is reported today about 400+ workers squeezed into dormitory meant for only 215. That is the main issue, and things like that.
This is not an argument for imprisoning the maid as some forumers like to claim. It is simply wrong that in a free market an employer cannot be free make a mutually acceptable agreement with the maid. Worse than a communist government or a police state.
Many free market nations have laws that govern how contracts can be written. If a law is passed that constrains what an employer can ask of a maid, it is a labour law, not communism, and in the case of Singapore, if passed, will merely bring us in line with the majority of free market economies. The rules already apply under the Employment act anyway, for the majority of workmen, and nobody calls that communism, yes?
As I indicated earlier, not everything (or contract) can be on a willing-buyer, willing seller basis, some rules need to be in place, like the employment act, extended to maids, for instance. And I say again, it is not communism, and it is not wrong. I think anyone with responsibility for running an organisation or managing staff will hopefully understand that.
For example, even as teachers should rightfully have weekend off, they spend such time marking and preparing work. When their students get into trouble, they have to make time to help such students.
yes, i agree in principle the law if passed will bring us somewhat in line with the free market economies; only i am inclined to think that it is restrictive as well to the diversity of families we have that employ DHs.[/quote]like that even the MPs, ministers, etc who need to work weekends to attend prize giving, constituency functions, etc etc are also running foul of ILO standards ......bla bla bla ....we are a nation of slave drivers indeed...and worse, the pastors and priests have to work weekend.......and indeed, it is just like Jesus asked, is it permissible to heal on a sabbath ? looks like we have lots of hypocrites and pharisees here.......so what the law is passed and all maids must have a day off ? some employers will certainly take it back on the other 6 days .......harping on mandatory day off is just futile. it is the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law. -
LKVM:
LKVM,icemochi, may I please ask if you wont use the word DH for maid since in KSP its used for Dear Husband :oops:
I get confused reading the posts
oops sorry. I didnt consider that. Some people get angry because maid sounds degrading and they are only employing domestic helpers.
i get your point.
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MotherHen:
well said and agreed!
No two persons – and how they cope with life – are the same. Let the day-off issue be an arrangement between employer and employee. I choose to believe that most employers in Singapore are fair, and will do what is right.
however there are people out there who believes that by having a law on off day, everyone complies with ILO and becomes an angel -
A elected minister of a country should know whose welfare she or he should serve. We have not elected an MOM - minister of maids. There r many pressing labour issues to resolve. Choosing to solve this one first is because it is easy job - just pass the buck to employers. There r many Singaporean workers out there needing fairer deals, protection. Just take a look at the aged workers with an hdb loan to pay, old folks who have have been elbowed out of the job market but still need to put food on the table etc etc
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1amber:
A elected minister of a country should know whose welfare she or he should serve. We have not elected an MOM - minister of maids. There r many pressing labour issues to resolve. Choosing to solve this one first is because it is easy job - just pass the buck to employers. There r many Singaporean workers out there needing fairer deals, protection. Just take a look at the aged workers with an hdb loan to pay, old folks who have have been elbowed out of the job market but still need to put food on the table etc etc
:goodpost:
I know of the aged, family friends, who becos of family circumstances need to continue working to feed themselves. One works as an office cleaner becos the time is shorter (so she can take care of her grandkids also). In that particular instance, her employer chose to get rid of her and replace with a FT who can work harder/longer and for less pay. Ended up got to rent out a room to make ends meet.
It's not wrong to look at bottomline, then at the end of the day, FTs will reign becos they won't need family time (their families are back in their homeland and they are only here for the short haul).
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