SINGAPORE: A foreign domestic helper working in Singapore for about eight years now took to social media sharing about her journey as a maid that began in 2010 in Kuwait.
In a post to a support group on social media for domestic helpers and employers alike, the maid wrote that she worked in Kuwait and Malaysia before coming to Singapore. She wrote that when she was in Kuwait, she had no day off for the first few months and only got some time to herself after seven months. Following that, she decided to work in Malaysia as she felt it was nearer to her home country, the Philippines.
“When I apply for Malaysia I put my education attainment. My skills and courses I had. But the agent says”. You’re too qualified, I think put secondary graduate can already easy for you to get hired.” .So I agree to the suggestion”, she wrote.
She added that in Malaysia, she was sent for any training or acclimatisation course and was even told who she should call for help. After signing the contract at the agency, she wrote that her agent told her to sign another document with additional rules imposed by her employer.
She added that the additional rules were as follows:
Fast forward to 2016, she came to Singapore. ”
She said that her maid holds her own handphone and has no restrictions on phone usage. Her three children are aged five, three and two. “I am hands on with kids and only need help from helper sometimes with washing them/changing. My helper holds her own hp & no restriction / i dont keep her hp and she gets wifi all day round. When i leave her home with the girls, shes very happy ( coz get hp usage nonstop) when im at home, she put in black face even though less hands on kids”, the woman wrote.
She asked if all other maids liked being home without their employers and caring for their children.