No weekly day off for most new maids
Bosses prefer compensating them instead in first 3-4 months of work. -ST
Amelia Tan
Sat, Jan 26, 2013
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE - The majority of employers are not giving newly hired maids a weekly day off despite a rule mandating this kicking in from Jan 1.
This means they are instead opting to give additional compensation for the days off to maids hired, or who have their work permits renewed, from Jan 1.
A check with six maid agents showed that about 70 per cent of their combined 400 or so customers hiring maids this month will probably not give any rest day at all in the first three to four months of work.
But the bulk of these employers have agreed that if the maids continue to perform well after this initial period, they may agree to give at least a day off a month.
The agents said bosses view the first three to four months as a probation period to gauge performance and if the maids can be trusted not to fall into bad company when they go out.
Some agents said they also discourage maids from asking for a day off in their first few months of work as they would still be unfamiliar with Singapore and would not have much money to spend.
Employers have to fork out about $70, on top of the maids' basic pay of about $450, to get them to work on the four rest days they are entitled to a month.
That works out to $17.50 for each day off. Some agencies are also getting employers to pay above the market rate, or about $20, for each day off that their maids work. The agents hope the move will make employers feel the pinch and prompt more of them to give their maids days off.
Comfort Employment director Benny Liew said: "Other workers are paid more for working on weekends or rest days to recognise their efforts. Such a practice should be extended to maids too."
Agents pointed out that maids hired before Jan 1 are also asking for rest days but employers are not budging so far.
Orange Employment Agency owner Shirley Ng said employers are unwilling to relent "because this has been the practice all these years". It will take time to change their mindset, she added.
Bosses willing to grant time off said they do so to improve workers' employment terms and retain them.
Housewife Esther Law, 45, did not give her Indonesian maid, Ms Anjar Sari, 27, any days off for the last two years.
But the latter will get two Sundays off a month from next month as part of the terms in the new contract which she will sign next week.
She will be compensated for the other two Sundays worked.
Said Madam Law: "I want her to have a good rest after working hard. If she is happier, she will stay on to work for me."
There are 208,400 maids in Singapore, with most from Indonesia and the Philippines.
10 comments:
The rule on weekly day off did not say must be on weekends mah.. So why must pay more than the standard rate to compensate? The maid can always take weekday off instead of weekend. As it is, there is no differences between weekday and weekends for them as they are suppose to work 7 days a week. The agencies simple make things complicated.
Quote from the report :
"The majority of employers are not giving newly hired maids a weekly day off despite a rule mandating this kicking in from Jan 1."
The general public blames the Singaporean employer for being cruel and selfish, and treating maids as slaves. Most people fail to understand that maids have absolute freedom to choose whether they want off days or not. No one can force a maid to work without off days.
If a maid must have a weekly day off, then she should only work for an employer who agrees to it. If she cannot find such a employer, then she should just stay in her home country.
All those maids who agree to work with no off days have done so out of their own free will. It is wrong to blame on employers.
Many Singaporean employers have to work every day of the week. We are willing to pay for someone to work on Sundays so that we can have a good rest. If the maid is willing to do so, what is wrong with that ?
My maid currently has alternate Sundays off. She is happy enough, and she refused to take weekly day off when I offered her. The reason is because she needs to spend money on MRT and food if she goes out. She would rather take the compensation. In any case, her work is the same as that of a stay at home mother. In fact, if she does not work in Singapore and stay home in Indonesia, her life will be a lot tougher because she does not have all the machines to help with her daily chores.
Why is it so difficult for people to believe that maids are willing to work without off days ? They can be paid 4 to 5 times more than what they can earn in their home country, working with no off days is no big deal to them.
I think it is very interesting how the article glosses over the fact that the reason why many new helpers don't get off days in the first few months is because they are paying off the maid loan and hence have no money to go out even if they want. Secondly, we just engaged an Indonesian helper and the agency DICTATES that we pay 3 months salary (inclusive of compensated off days) upfront. And it is understood that in these three months, she will not be entitled to any off days. Ideally, I would like to give my helper once a week off but I find that despite being known as the employer, I have little control over the employment contract or the maid loan.
are you sure its only 3 months?
why is your maids loan only 3 months? my wife just got this indo maid last month and we had to pay upfront 8 months loan, $1288 agency fees,doc$300,ins$300 and now the maid wants to transfer and we have to pay $600 for replacement feeeeeee plus doc & ins again! tried talking to maid and even knowing she will have 2 more months to pay its ok with her. how can it be ok for us to lose so much money on her decision! who can i turn to as i really feel cheated!
Why is OM NOT hearing us????
True enough, i Ned to pay 7 to 8 mths in advance when hiring my helper. Have not include agency fee, insurance fee and documents fees.. for the last past 8 mths my helper only received her paid off days as upon hiring she agreed not to take day offs.
If the maid does not have money to go out..then give her money to go out or buy her a movie ticket or some lunch money....treat her as a person..
I am a employer and I follow this...it need not be more...20 $ is more than enough!
Hey Benny Liew, before U make the comment that maids shd be compensated more on week ends, I would like to ask you if U have a maid yourself?!
Not that I dont wan give maid off day... after I start giving her off day she is totally changed person.. she tell me her friends tell her this n that end up my maid got cheated by her friends n spent all her hard earned money to buy hp from them at a high price and she holding 4 hp now sound like she have big business that needed 4 hp. My maid use to be very good and hard working that y we decided to give her off day cos we dont mind letting her to have a good rest but turn out very disappointed.. and I also wonder where she get the money to buy so many hp n base on the hp model they r not cheap hp I dont even dare to think her money come from where. ..
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