In yet another case of a foreign domestic worker stuck in a rather abusive and unpleasant working environment, the helper in question tried to ask for a transfer out but was denied so by her employers unless she compensated them for the remaining days of her contract.
In a Facebook post to a group for helpers called FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), the helper wrote on March 5 that she wanted the opinions of other employers and helpers in the group. She shared that she had been working with her employer for almost four years and would finish her second contract in three months’ time.
She explained that for the past three years, there had been a lot of conflict between herself and the members of her employer’s family, especially their children. Whenever she would tell them nicely to eat faster, finish their homework or stop watching television, they would rudely tell her that it was none of her business.
The helper, who remained anonymous in her post, wrote that they would tell her that she was lousy, stupid, and damned. Frustrated and upset, she would complain to her employer, the kids’ mother, who would tell her not to take their words too seriously and brush off the situation.
When the helper then asked for a transfer at that point, her employer said that she still had a year left in her contract and that they would not allow her to do so.
The helper wrote that at present, she only had three to four months left to finish her contract. She added that she was told by her employer that if she gave them one month’s notice to leave, and there were still 15 days left on her contract, they expected her to compensate them for not fulfilling the contract.
Rather frustrated, she asked other employers: “Do u think the helper is so mean when she asking for transfer”?
She also asked other helpers how they would handle themselves if they were faced with the same situation.
Here’s what they said:
