Letter To The Editor: All employers must treat their domestic helpers with respect, dignity & trust

Dear Editor,

I refer to The Independent Singapore’s featured news, “Maids say they would rather not have a fixed timetable” (Oct 21) and “Maid says someone asked her who her owner was, “Nobody owns me. If you ask me who’s my employer, I can answer you”(Oct).

Nowadays, there are many varied reasons why people want to employ their domestic helpers. But one thing is certain: every family has chores that can never be done. Hence, the domestic helpers are mainly employed for these purposes.

Getting their house chores duly planned and done tests an employer’s wisdom and experience. However, their efforts or demands must be seamlessly coordinated and cooperated by their domestic helpers. There’s no perfect shortcut to get things or chores done swiftly – it must go through a well-planned and necessary process. Hopefully, this can be duly communicated to the domestic helpers and get them committed. Most importantly, to get their assigned tasks/chores smoothly accomplished.

In due course, the ways and skills of communication between employers and their helpers are important.

Of course, to a certain extent, the arrangements of house chores, such as the job’s details, timetables or schedules, can be openly discussed and shared with the domestic helpers to make them feel that they are part of the “indispensable” work partners.

Normally, the encounter of each domestic helper is unique. It all depends upon how their employers treat them and the mutually reciprocal relationship between the domestic helper and her employer.

However, one basic element or commonality remains unchanged: human nature’s dignity. This is regardless of how superior and inferior your social status or the nature of your job. In this instance, all employers should treat their domestic helpers with respect, dignity and trust.

Trust has to be gradually built over time regardless of whether you are a couple, siblings or colleagues. Hence, there is no exception between employers and their helpers.

Teo Kueh Liang

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of The Independent Singapore.

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