Maid demands all Sundays and public holidays off, with no curfew; other helpers say this is “normal” request

SINGAPORE: A maid, in a post demanding specific work days off, led to an intense debate between helpers and employers in the comments section.

Posting to a support group on social media for domestic helpers and employers, the maid wrote that she was looking to be hired by someone who could give her all Sundays and public holidays off without a curfew. Her post garnered over 300 reactions and more than 250 comments on social media.

While other helpers in the comments section felt that her ask was reasonable, employers felt it was not.

Here’s what they said:

Earlier this year, an employer of a foreign domestic helper took to social media to advocate for a proper day off for helpers.

In a post to a support group for maids and employers alike, the man wrote: “I feel it’s quite sad to see that on their off days, helpers often come home to find a significant amount of work left for them by their employers’ and their families”. He added that employers could handle tasks such as washing the dishes or walking the dog on their maid’s day off.

“Personally, I believe that taking eight hours off shouldn’t result in twice the amount of work waiting for you upon your return. It diminishes the true essence of having time off when the workload has only accumulated and become condensed in your absence on what is your off day”, the man wrote.

Employer says maids should not have to come back from their days off only to find more work left to do