An employer who wanted to know if their maid’s timings for her off days were normal took to social media to ask other helpers and employers.
In an anonymous post to Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), an employer asked: “Do give me advice – is it normal for my FDW to leave at 7:30am or earlier on her off day and return around 10pm or later?”
She added: “What are usual off day hours?”
One maid said:
Here’s what others said:
Despite being happy with the new mandate that states maids must be given a day off each month, maids also expect that they are not made to do housework before and after they go out on their off day.
By the end of the year, foreign domestic workers in Singapore will be given a mandatory rest day and a 24/7 helpline, among other measures to help their wellbeing, said Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang on Sunday (May 22).
Responding to the new mandate, foreign domestic helpers said that even though they were given ‘days off’, they were still expected to clean and do chores in the morning, and after they returned home in the evening.
In comments to Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), many foreign domestic helpers wrote that the new law should be clearly defined, with penalties given to employers who deny their helpers the day off. Others in the comments also wrote that on Sundays, they had to clean the house before going out and that they had to cook dinner once they were back home.
In July last year, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced that employers would be mandated by the end of 2022 to give their FDWs one day off each month, which could not be compensated away with cash.
On May 22, Ms Gan said that the day off would enable helpers to form a support network outside the household they’re working in and allow them to rest and recharge.
With a situation not uncommon for maids, yet another foreign domestic worker took to social media asking if it was the norm for her to have to work despite it being her day off.
Read also:
Maid wants to stay in SG after employer cancels her Work Permit – Singapore NewsÂ
Maid made to work while standing for 17 hours – Singapore NewsÂ