Maid to get weekly rest days
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MOM is doing a good job. Now the rest of the world can see that Singapore is listening, and respects basic human rights. The fdws have their rights and are being protected. What about our rights and our protection? Do we have any rights at all? Can we scrap the contract/ agreement since it serves no real purpose except for putting in black and white the salary and off days? The security bond should not be borne by employers - rather it should be between the maid agencies and MOM (so that agencies comply with MOM’s laws and standard procedures - aren’t they being regulated by MOM in the first place?), otherwise bond/agreement should be between MOM and fdws themselves. The fdws are NOT BELOW LEGAL AGE…Employers are not their guardians! Since the fdws have chosen to work in a foreign country, they should be accountable for their own actions. Just like we are held responsible if we try to be funny at the work place. The article is today’s New Paper just makes me to wretch. I understand that maids are definitely human beings and need free time…but the things some of them do when employers trust them so much…If the Off Day is to allow fdws to rest…then MOM must do away with monetary compensation altogether. If no off day, then a replacement off day to be given instead. Actually very, very few maids will want off day other than Sunday. PA, all other organisations which conduct self- improvement classes for fdws should start scheduling them on weekdays too, not just Sundays. They have to work with MOM, conduct a survey on households with maids to find out how many maids will be taking which day off and plan suitable activities accordingly. Other organisations which may be tapped on to assist the disabled and elderly should also be on standby throughout the week. If the Govt wants to legislate this weekly off day, it must make it a real success by ensuring that support systems are in place. Please don’t say we are not prepared for the overwhelming implications, that we didn’t expect Lucky Plaza, City Plaza, Peninsular Plaza and surrounding areas to be overcrowded, didn’t expect the budget hotels to be overcrowded, didn’t expect that pregnancy, crimes of passion cases to go up, sharp increase in working mothers not returning to the workforce, etc etc. If not managed carefully, this well-intended policy will become a real joke for the whole world to seen.
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Six ways to make it fairer for employers of maids
THE Government has done much to improve the well-being of maids ('Weekly day off for maids a must from next year'; March 6) and I am gratified that it says it considers employers' concerns as well ('Employers' concerns considered, says MOM'; yesterday).
There is certainly more room for improvement in being fairer to employers, and I have half a dozen suggestions that the Government could introduce in tandem with the start of the weekly day-off ruling for maids from next year.
First, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) should require maid agencies not to extract upfront the thousands of dollars from employers to pay for their maids' loans. Instead, agencies can be reimbursed via monthly deductions of the maids' wages when they start working.
Second, the MOM should counsel maids who seek to change employers after the third transfer within a year. This will help to prevent maids from switching employers too frequently, and allows the Government to review whether such maids are suitable to continue working here.
Third, the agency and the maid should compensate the employer if they provide false biodata or information that causes the employer to suffer monetary loss by hiring an unsuitable maid.
Fourth, if the maid resigns before the contract period is up, she should pay her own airfare back, unless there is a valid reason for the employer to do so.
Fifth, the ministry should provide a website or training for employers who are looking for maids, as well as for maids who have completed their contracts and are looking for new employers, to handle the application process and documentation on their own.
Finally, a maid's work permit should be transferred to the agency once she is returned to it. Employers looking for transfer maids should be given a week to try them out, and pay them directly. The calculation can be based on the agreed maid's monthly salary if she is being employed. This will help the maid to earn some income while waiting for new employment.
At the same time, the maid and employer can assess if they are happy with each other.
Maids today are well-informed and mature enough to be responsible for their own actions.
The rights and responsibilities of maids, employers and agencies should be borne equally and fairly.
Belinda Oo (Miss)
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_777281.html -
I like point 2, the part where maids are to be counselled if they change more than 3 employers.
Come to think of it, we are going to have the Lemon Law coming into effect soon. Saw from a headline that this applies to pets. So will this apply to maid? ie agency say maid can speak english and cook. If she come not knowing anything besides "Yes ma’am" and can’t cook a decent meal (maggi mee not counted, but baseline to be set); then considered lemon to be refunded can?
(btw, my first maid didn’t even know how to cook maggi mee so don’t think I am crazy) -
hquek:
is your maid your pet ?I like point 2, the part where maids are to be counselled if they change more than 3 employers.
Come to think of it, we are going to have the Lemon Law coming into effect soon. Saw from a headline that this applies to pets. So will this apply to maid? ie agency say maid can speak english and cook. If she come not knowing anything besides \"Yes ma'am\" and can't cook a decent meal (maggi mee not counted, but baseline to be set); then considered lemon to be refunded can?
(btw, my first maid didn't even know how to cook maggi mee so don't think I am crazy) -
hmmm, thinking very hard. but was wondering if lemons apply to maids provided by agencies. The act of introduction is a service also mah.
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verykiasu2010:
All the points are valid and fair for both the employer and the FDW.Six ways to make it fairer for employers of maids
THE Government has done much to improve the well-being of maids ('Weekly day off for maids a must from next year'; March 6) and I am gratified that it says it considers employers' concerns as well ('Employers' concerns considered, says MOM'; yesterday).
There is certainly more room for improvement in being fairer to employers, and I have half a dozen suggestions that the Government could introduce in tandem with the start of the weekly day-off ruling for maids from next year.
First, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) should require maid agencies not to extract upfront the thousands of dollars from employers to pay for their maids' loans. Instead, agencies can be reimbursed via monthly deductions of the maids' wages when they start working.
Second, the MOM should counsel maids who seek to change employers after the third transfer within a year. This will help to prevent maids from switching employers too frequently, and allows the Government to review whether such maids are suitable to continue working here.
Third, the agency and the maid should compensate the employer if they provide false biodata or information that causes the employer to suffer monetary loss by hiring an unsuitable maid.
Fourth, if the maid resigns before the contract period is up, she should pay her own airfare back, unless there is a valid reason for the employer to do so.
Fifth, the ministry should provide a website or training for employers who are looking for maids, as well as for maids who have completed their contracts and are looking for new employers, to handle the application process and documentation on their own.
Finally, a maid's work permit should be transferred to the agency once she is returned to it. Employers looking for transfer maids should be given a week to try them out, and pay them directly. The calculation can be based on the agreed maid's monthly salary if she is being employed. This will help the maid to earn some income while waiting for new employment.
At the same time, the maid and employer can assess if they are happy with each other.
Maids today are well-informed and mature enough to be responsible for their own actions.
The rights and responsibilities of maids, employers and agencies should be borne equally and fairly.
Belinda Oo (Miss)
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_777281.html -
sadly, I don’t think government will bother…coz if they really bother to make such changes which are fairer to employers, it means A LOT MORE work for them, even though they really SHOULD, coz they collected maid levies FROM US!!! sigh!!
policies like this weekly day off thingy, they just OPEN their mouth, & ANNOUNCE only, NO WORK involved for the GOVT, they ‘suga suga’ annouce & take ALL the glam in making themselves sound so HOLY in front of other countries etc, they will do without thinking for us, EMPLOYERS!!
& really, the true cost of employing a maid, is really far more than what the govt thinks lor…the food, medical bills when maid is sick, toiletries, spoil things at home(my miad ironed & spoilt 3-4 pieces of clothing, WITHOUT telling me,wait for us to discover!!) etc etc… sigh!
with all these Pro-maid policies, I really really don’t feel good if my maid talks to other maids, coz they sure to compare…& trouble will brew!! which I can’t can’t afford, coz I need to go back to full-time work ASAP! FOr past more than 1 year, didn’t work coz don’t feel secure leaving my young kids to new maid, & on single income is really really not easy & TOUGH!! now that she is more independent, I intend to go back to work, then this new policy have to be implemented…& I work irregular hours & also on weekends…how to give off-days?? weekly somemore!! so I have to pay her extra $80-100 for opting not taking off-days!!
sigh!! who thinks for us, employers??? sigh!!! -
verykiasu2010:
Actually I am not so sure about Point 2. Would it really help if they get counseled? What if they lie during the counseling session (e.g. say get abused etc) so that they can get the transfer? If being denied a transfer is at stake, I don't believe that it will be a minority who would lie. Of course, eventually the previous employer will be vindicated, but imagine all the hassle and the unpleasantness during the investigation.Six ways to make it fairer for employers of maids
THE Government has done much to improve the well-being of maids ('Weekly day off for maids a must from next year'; March 6) and I am gratified that it says it considers employers' concerns as well ('Employers' concerns considered, says MOM'; yesterday).
There is certainly more room for improvement in being fairer to employers, and I have half a dozen suggestions that the Government could introduce in tandem with the start of the weekly day-off ruling for maids from next year.
First, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) should require maid agencies not to extract upfront the thousands of dollars from employers to pay for their maids' loans. Instead, agencies can be reimbursed via monthly deductions of the maids' wages when they start working.
Second, the MOM should counsel maids who seek to change employers after the third transfer within a year. This will help to prevent maids from switching employers too frequently, and allows the Government to review whether such maids are suitable to continue working here.
Third, the agency and the maid should compensate the employer if they provide false biodata or information that causes the employer to suffer monetary loss by hiring an unsuitable maid.
Fourth, if the maid resigns before the contract period is up, she should pay her own airfare back, unless there is a valid reason for the employer to do so.
Fifth, the ministry should provide a website or training for employers who are looking for maids, as well as for maids who have completed their contracts and are looking for new employers, to handle the application process and documentation on their own.
Finally, a maid's work permit should be transferred to the agency once she is returned to it. Employers looking for transfer maids should be given a week to try them out, and pay them directly. The calculation can be based on the agreed maid's monthly salary if she is being employed. This will help the maid to earn some income while waiting for new employment.
At the same time, the maid and employer can assess if they are happy with each other.
Maids today are well-informed and mature enough to be responsible for their own actions.
The rights and responsibilities of maids, employers and agencies should be borne equally and fairly.
Belinda Oo (Miss)
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_777281.html
I suggest, why not disallow transfer altogether (like HK and Taiwan). Or maybe allow maximum 1 transfer during the duration of her work permit here. After that, no choice, she will be sent home. This would also encourage commitment on the maid's part, and not suka suka transfer to get higher pay, etc.
Agree with all the other points in the letter. -
Why no one mention anything abt the insurance to follow with the maid or employer throughout the 2 years, instead of employers having to purchase another insurance when they have to get another maid if the preivous maid asked for transfer?
And what abt the lodging and food expenses employers have to foot while the maid sits in the agency waiting to be transferred (and it is the maid asking for the transfer cos she doesn’t like to work with the family due to trivial matter?) -
hquek:
hmmm, thinking very hard. but was wondering if lemons apply to maids provided by agencies. The act of introduction is a service also mah.
Looking at the threads below...I think many people with vested interests would have their respective field day to voice their concerns....
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