SINGAPORE — A foreign domestic worker whose 2-year contract will end in February next year wanted an additional day off in order to stay on and continue working for her current employers.
In an anonymous post to Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), the helper’s employer asked what she could offer the maid instead of an additional day off. The employer wrote that she was keen on keeping her maid after the contract ended. “I understand that she is looking at 2 days off per month instead of 1 and she’s keen to attend English lessons on weekends. However, my hubby is self-employed and work freelance hence he will usually need to work on weekends whenever he is called to”.
She also explained that she had to send her older daughter for enrichment classes on the weekends next year, which is why she could not afford to give her helper the two days off.
According to the Manpower Ministry (MOM), “From 1 January 2023, all employers must provide their migrant domestic workers (MDWs)1Â at least one rest day a month that cannot be compensated away2. Â This is part of the measures announced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) last year to allow MDWs to rest and recharge from work, as well as form networks of support outside the household”.
In the group, most helpers who commented wrote that as much as possible, the employer should try to give her maid two days off.
Responding in the comments section, the employer explained that her older child was at school for most of the day, so her helper technically only had to care for the younger child during the day.“During day time, she take cares (sic) of my younger one (feed her breakfast & lunch, change diaper, clean her up if dirty) and does the normal household chores of laundry (hang wet clothes out to dry, fold and keep clothes and helping my mum to wash the dishes). She does not need to do any grocery marketing. Neither does she need to cook. My younger old takes her daily 3 hr nap from 1pm to 4pm. My hubby picks my elder girl after school. When my elder girl is back, my hubby will feed her and I will shower her”.