The media is taking notice of such maid abuse:
A SLICE of bread and a bowl of porridge, 250 calories.
This is what some maids get a day.
Two hundred calories is hardly enough, they actually need 10 times
that amount (2,100 calories).
Nutritionist Cyndy Au was shocked to hear of such a diet and said:
'Any lay man can tell that someone having these meals would be
grossly undernourished.'
Checks with Embassies, and maid welfare agencies showed that
insufficient food has surfaced as a common complaint among maids
here. And nutritionists say that with the high levels of activity
and low intake, maids who are starved will eventually waste
away.
The issue of insufficient food arose in a letter to The Straits
Times' forum page on Friday, when Ms Laura Thornton-Olivry, a
research director in her 30s said her neighbour's maid has been
begging for food through the back window.
Also, in a case before the courts, an Indonesian maid whose
employer has been accused of abusing her told of being starved. In
testimony last Thursday, she told the court that 'ma'am never gave
me food and I was hungry'.
These are not new occurrences.
In 2002, a maid, given just two packets of instant noodles over
lunch and dinner, had to steal apple juice and porridge from the
children. She was eventually beaten to death.
Looking at examples of the spartan meals that some maids have, Ms
Au told The Sunday Times it's obvious that their 'energy intake is
much lower than the energy required, especially considering the
nature of her work'.
According to the Health Promotion Board's website, a woman aged
between 18 and 30, who weighs about 54kg, would need 2,100 calories
a day if she engages in medium levels of activity.
However, a daily intake of water, a slice of bread, and watery
porridge would not go beyond 250 calories.
Also, Ms Au pointed out that there is no variety.
'Not all food groups are present hence the nutrients are not
obtained to meet the daily requirement,' she said.
She added that these maids would eventually waste away because
their fat a protein storage would be used up.
Also, they would feel tired, have low immunity and might suffer
from giddiness and a lack of concentration.
But often, employers aren't abusive from the onset.
Psychiatrist Brian Yeo said that when things are not done to
satisfaction, employer may then exercise forms of control like
reducing pay or food. These are more passive forms of abuse that
may escalate over time.
Agreed psychologist Danny Ng: 'It is really an issue of control and
power. They can control someone else's diet and it is done to
establish boundaries of who is the boss and who can control the
other.'
Both agreed that abuse often occurs when employers who are stressed
at work or even at home, take their frustrations out on the
maid.
Dr Yeo added that the spouse, usually the husband, does not
intervene as it may appear that he is siding with the maid instead
of the wife.
But it isn't always a problem of nasty employers.
'Sometimes it might be an issue of cultural differences,' said Mr
Angland Seah owner of maid agency AJS Manpower consultants.
In the case of Filipina maids, he said they are used to a bowl of
rice for breakfast and find that bread is not enough.
The company often advises employers to cook extra rice for dinner,
so that the maid can have some the next morning.
Another maid agent Yeo Boon Loong said it is often a two-way
problem.
'Maids and employers have different expectations and when they are
not met, problems arise, but if employer, can understand what the
maid needs and give a proper meal, things might be easily
resolved,' he said.
Troubled maids and concerned members of the public can call the
Ministry of Manpower's toll-free hot-line at 1800-339-5505
Straits Times 31 Mar
