SINGAPORE: A new domestic helper has raised concerns after finding out that the family she was hired to work for included more people than what was originally stated in her contract.
In an anonymous post in the “SINGAPORE TRANSFER (No Fees/SD), DIRECT HIRE & NEW HELPER” Facebook group, the helper shared, “In my contract, it states that I am only supposed to care for Sir, Ma’am, and two kids. However, when I arrived at my employer’s house, two aunties were also living here.”
“On top of that, Grandpa and Grandma come over every night for dinner. Is this normal and okay?” she asked online.
The helper added that she has been feeling exhausted from serving so many people in the household, especially with the amount of cleaning she has to do every night.
According to her, she often ends up washing piles of dishes and can only rest after the grandparents leave.
“I am always tired,” she wrote, adding, “Please help and advise me. I am a new helper, and this is my first time working as an MDW (migrant domestic worker). Thanks.”
“Having a job is better than no job.”
The post quickly drew mixed reactions online. While some sympathised with the helper and encouraged her to speak up about her concerns, others criticised her for venting publicly.
One commenter dismissed her complaints and argued that the extra family members should not make much of a difference unless she was personally responsible for taking care of them.
“Complaining online doesn’t solve anything,” the commenter wrote. “The 2 aunties: Do you have to bathe/shower them or feed them? Do you iron their clothes? If you don’t need to handle them personally, then what’s the issue? Their rooms are part of the main house, right?! So cleaning their rooms is NOT an added chore.”
“Grandparents: Again, are you bathing, showering, or feeding them? No? Then the issue is there’s too many plates to wash? Aren’t there just 2 more plates and 2 sets of cutlery? You can’t wash 2 more sets? THAT makes you tired?! Did you come to Singapore to be a helper or a princess?”
Another told her, “Please go home.. do not work here.”
A third said, “Please don’t overexert yourself, sis. Your health and rest are very important. Try to talk to your ma’am nicely about the workload, or contact your agency to help you mediate. Hugs to you!”
A fourth commented, “You are an adult. You can always speak nicely, even if it is a little tiring for you. If you need more sleep, you can look into naps in the afternoon or work something out. But at the end of the day, having a job is better than no job.”
Some fellow domestic helpers also chimed in with their own experiences, saying that while busy households can be exhausting, having too little to do can sometimes feel even harder emotionally because it leads to loneliness and homesickness.
One helper shared, “My previous employer was a single lady with no parents, no kids, and no husband, and she had a small house, which made me feel very bored because there were fewer things to do. After 10 am until 6 pm, I was free with nothing to do.”
“My mind was always busy thinking and looking for something to do, and I kept missing my family and feeling homesick. I could only stay for six months, not because she didn’t like me, but because I was bored. She let me find a new boss for a month, and I got one, which made my job busier, and I enjoy it.”
According to the Ministry of Manpower’s website, employers must ensure that the domestic helper they intend to hire fully understands the duties she is expected to carry out in the household.
Employers are also expected to keep workloads reasonable. Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations, helpers should be given adequate daily rest, as well as at least one rest day per week.
Read also: ‘Parenting my parents’: Singaporeans discuss caregiving stress and why some no longer want children
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