After finding out from the neighbour that her employers had planned to replace her, one domestic helper took to social media to ask others for advice on what to do.
The domestic helper, who went by the name of タグ たや あやた or Tagutaya ayata on Facebook, wrote in a post on Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum) on Tuesday (May 17). She asked if there were any other helpers who had faced a situation similar to what she was going through.
The domestic helper wrote that she had almost finished her contract, and only had four months more to go. She added that when talking to the neighbour, they told her that her employers were looking for a new domestic helper to replace her.
In her post, the maid asked if she should speak to her employers, but also noted that she felt it was too early to ask them about her replacement with four months to go. She also felt that she did not want to reveal that it was the neighbour who told her she was to be replaced.
The domestic helper also seemed to be surprised by the situation and explained that her employers would often reward her with small $20 or $50 bonuses for her hard work. She added that while she respected her employers’ reason, she did not know what it was at all. The domestic helper also said that she felt rather bad when she had to find out through her neighbour.
Here’s what netizens said:
Last month, another foreign domestic worker wrote that she was at a loss for what to do after her employer told her that she had a ticket booked for her to be sent back to the Philippines the next day. In a post on Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), a lady by the name of Majalia Padilla wrote that she was asking a question on behalf of a friend.
She wrote on Wednesday (Apr 27) that her friend, a foreign domestic worker, thought that her employers would release her from her existing contract. Ms Padilla said that her friend’s employers let her look for a new employer, but suddenly told her she was being sent back to the Philippines the very next day.
Ms Padilla asked if it was fair for employers to treat her this way and wanted to know if there was anything her friend could possibly do to remain in Singapore.