Maid asks: My employer is shifting house, so can I temporarily work at my employer’s friend’s house and sometimes at my employer’s house as well?

In a post to Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), a helper by the name of Lucy Damayanti wrote that since her employer was shifting houses, and would live in a service apartment for a while until they left Singapore, she would be temporarily staying at her employer’s friend’s house.

After her employer leaves Singapore, Ms Damayanti wrote that she would then be transferred to her employer’s friend, as the latter’s current helper was leaving Singapore as well. She added that her work permit was still under her current employer’s name, as they had not yet left Singapore. “but if my employer needs my help I have to come and help them ( that’s mean I have to work for 2 place[s])”, Ms Damayanti wrote, asking if this practice was allowed.

According to the Manpower Ministry (MOM), a maid can only work for her employer at the residential address declared to MOM and cannot take on work with other employers. 

Should an employer need their helper to take care of their child or parent at a relative’s house, they must notify MOM before they can proceed with this arrangement.

To notify MOM, the employer must first ensure all the following:

• You have already obtained your helper’s written agreement to take care of your child or parent at the relative’s house.
• Your helper does not perform the full load of housework in both households.

In the comments, other domestic helpers shared similar experiences they had been through and advised Ms Damayanti to contact the MOM.

Here’s what they said:

An administrator of the group advised Ms Damayanti that, by law, asking her to work in two places is illegal. She suggested to the helper to decline politely if her employers ask her to work in two houses.

But, the administrator Ms Jamine Breeze added: “But remember that every decision we make have (sic) consequences.

Should you refused (sic) to follow their orders, it will leave a bad impression and they might think you are being calculative. They might even change their mind in hiring you. So you have to be prepared for whatever the consequences will be. My advice is to speak to the current employer and new employer and ask them to process your new wp asap. In that case, you won[‘]t be working illegally”. /TISG

Maid leaves note for employers asking them to wash their own plates etc., and clean the floor on her day off