“Are we treating our maids the way we would want our loved ones to be treated?” This is the question that has been asked by Nee Soon GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Ng.
Recently he put up a post on Facebook asking Singaporeans for their opinion, on whether maids should be given paid annual home leave. The topic has been discussed widely of late, on The Straits Times Forum, and MP Louis Ng believes that it warrants a discussion in Parliament.
He has hence filed this Parliamentary Question for the sitting on 1 August: “To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider making it mandatory for employers to provide paid annual home leave to foreign domestic workers.”
As per Ministry of Manpower (MOM’s ) current guidelines, maids or foreign domestic workers are entitled to a weekly rest day, among other basic provisions such as proper accommodation, adequate medical care and safe work conditions.
We asked a few mums what they thought of paid annual home leave for maids, and here’s what they opined:
Well, looks like most mums are not in favour of this proposal. Many are of the opinion that there are not enough laws to protect the rights of employers in Singapore, what with many maids working illegally, moonlighting, getting into trouble and even getting pregnant…
What do you feel readers? Should Singapore maids be given ‘paid annual home leave’? Let us know your opinion in the poll below:
Also READ: What Singapore mums are saying to “A Day off for a maid should be 24 Hours”