Maid seeks transfer, difficult employer demands she pay back $6K hiring cost

A foreign domestic worker is asking how she can help a fellow worker facing a tough situation She asked other employers and helpers in the group for advice and help.

The woman, who goes by the name of Eliz Morante Domingo LIanillo, posted the appeal in a Facebook group called ‘FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum)‘ and said she was doing so on behalf of a friend.

Her friend wants a transfer, she says, because she keeps having repeated misunderstandings and conflicts  with her current employer, which “lead to degrading and insulting arguments”, so she wants a transfer to another employer.

But the current employer insists that  the helper who wants to switch must reimburse them the S$6,000 she says it cost them to engage her.

“So my question, is there any facts that supports that helper should pay that amount if they wish to transfer because things don’t work for both?” asks Ms Eliz.

She writes that as far as she knows, there is no clause or requirement that the helper reimburse the employer the hiring cost in order to get a transfer. She says that usually the agency will send the employer a replacement helper. As for the maid requesting the change, if there is no replacement employer for her to transfer to, she would then be sent back to her home country.

“Nobody wants to live in a place where peace is not exisiting. I also believe that we all have the choice to where we want to be, to find happiness that would match to our preference and expectations which I think the both parties needs”, Ms Eliz writes in her post.

Here are examples of how people responded to her post: