‘Abolish maid agency better’ — Netizens on performance bond waived for employers hiring Filipino helpers

A banker’s guarantee and performance bond would no longer be required when hiring Filipino domestic workers in Singapore; the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers and Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on Wednesday (Sep 7).

Previously, the S$7,000 performance bond must be purchased by Singaporean employment agencies and employers when hiring a foreign domestic worker (FDW) from the Philippines.

It is a contract between the Philippine Embassy and the employer to ensure that the helper receives fair treatment and proper wages while working in Singapore.

The performance bond is required should the helper take a vacation leave and return to her home country or renew her passport.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng posted a Facebook update on his meeting with Secretary Susan Ople from the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers on Sep 7.

“At the meeting, Secretary Ople shared the good news that the Philippines will no longer require our employment agencies and employers hiring Filipino domestic workers to provide a banker’s guarantee and performance bond,” said Dr Tan.

“This is a significant move that reaffirms the close bilateral ties and good working relationship on labour matters between our two countries. I look forward to deepening our bilateral ties and continued collaboration on areas of mutual interest,” he added.

For clarification, a performance bond is separate from the S$5,000 security bond for every helper employed, except for Malaysian FDWs. More details on the security bond can be found here.

Netizens commented on the news, noting that the maid agencies should be abolished instead.

Meanwhile, many thought it was about time for the performance bond to be abolished.

“Finally, they realise it’s irrelevant to hold employers ransom over the bond, which is ridiculous. If the maid wants to run away, they have a thousand and one ways to make themselves disappear. How to make the employer liable. They have hands and legs and not as dumb as before!” said Facebook user Alicia Foo./TISG

Maid who went back to her hometown on holiday actually ran away to start her own e-commerce business