Singapore refuses to grant maids mandatory days off
SINGAPORE -- Singapore on Monday maintained its stand against legislating mandatory rest days for foreign domestic helpers, saying they were adequately protected by existing measures.
Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong told parliament his ministry currently requires employers of maids to be responsible for their well-being, including providing them with adequate rest.
He said employers who fail to comply with the requirement face a fine of up to 5,000 Singapore dollars (US$3,670) or a jail term of up to six months, or both.
Employment contracts for maids require employers to stipulate the number of rest days they get per month and also provide that those who are made to work during their rest days should be compensated, Gan said.
"This is a more practical approach than legislating a fixed number of rest days per month for FDWs (foreign domestic workers) given the unique nature of domestic work," Gan said.
He cited a survey which found that maids said they were "happy" working in the affluent city-state and that the number of abuse cases has remained low.
"There is therefore no need at this point for MOM (ministry of manpower) to legislate a mandatory rest day," Gan said.
Advocacy groups joined forces last month to launch a campaign to provide foreign maids with rest days, citing a poll showing only about 50 percent of the 170,000 FDWs are given a regular day off.
Some maids are made to work seven days a week during their two-year contract, going out only on errands or when bringing their wards to and from school.
John Gee, president of migrant workers' advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too, has said denial of a day off remains "a big problem."
Most of the city-state's maids come from impoverished villages in Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Their counterparts in Hong Kong are, by law, granted one day off every week and public holidays.
Source: Agence France-Presse
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080526-138956/Singapore-refuses-to-grant-maids-mandatory-days-off
4 comments:
Everyone must be granted a day off not only to Singapore but all over the world. If everyone doesnt be granted hope there is a double compensation for the day that should be intended for the day off.
Filipino employers should set an example first in treating their maids well so foreign employers will emulate...
That is always the consequence if we are working abroad we really can't forced their government to grant our demands.
Let's just pray to enlighten the minds of the singaporean officials.
Well, if that is the stand of Singaporean government,I can do nothing as an individual,but the maids themselves can address this problem to the proper autorities, if this is a problem to them.
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