Maid says her employer agreed to different things during interview, asks if she should re-contract upon mutual agreement or go through agency

A foreign domestic worker unsure if she should renew her contract with her employer upon mutual agreement or go through an agency’s official process.

In her post on popular Facebook page FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), she asked if anyone else had renewed their contracts with their employers without getting an agency involved. She added that she planned to ask them to draw up a mutually agreeable contract, as she noted that some items discussed during her initial hiring interview were not followed.

The helper, who used a throwaway account, wrote on Monday (Jul 18) that her contract with her current employers was about to end soon, and her boss had informed her that they will process her paperwork themselves.

The helper then asked others in the group if they had similar experiences.

Here’s what they said:

Another foreign domestic worker who wrote that she was unable to handle working in a 3-storey bungalow with two dogs and a car desperately asked netizens for advice on how she could be transferred to another household quickly.

In a post to Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), the helper wrote, because she was required to do the chores in a 3-storey bungalow that included dealing with two dogs and washing the car every day, she asked her employer to release her. She added that she was now with her agent.

While she was with her agent, other employers were able to interview her, and she found another prospective employer. However, she added that this prospective employer was involved in a legal battle because of their previous helper. As such, she wrote that she was still waiting for her deployment.

The helper explained that she was holding onto a Special Pass. The Special Pass allows the helper to stay in Singapore before leaving after their Work Permit has been cancelled. She added that her Special Pass would expire on Jul 28.

Maid says she can’t handle 3-storey bungalow, 2 dogs and washing car daily, desperately wants new employer