Even one case of maid abuse is one case too
many
I FEEL sick every time I read about a case of maid abuse here and I
applaud The Straits Times for highlighting these cases and the
plight of maids.
I further applaud the courts for the tough stance they take
regarding maid abuse cases.
These people have sacrificed so much to come here to earn a small
amount of money to help take care of their families back home, yet
many of them are treated so badly.
Maids are human beings like the rest of us, yet some employers
treat their pets better than they treat their maids.
Sure, the abusers are a small minority of employers but, on the
other hand, the cases that go before the courts are likely just the
tip of the iceberg - many more abuse cases must be occurring, with
maids suffering in silence, not knowing what to do.
In our modern society how can anyone treat someone else inhumanely?
Abuse is abuse, whether it is physical, verbal, psychological or
not allowing the maid to eat nutritiously.
There can be no excuse for such abuse, yet many of the accused
claim that they are 'depressed', as if this gives them the right to
be abusive. Not only are some employers abusive, but we have also
probably all witnessed children physically or verbally abusing
their maid too.
Clearly, some people are not fit to employ a maid and should not be
allowed to do so.
While employers have the ability to research into the background of
their prospective maid it would appear sensible that some form of
checking also be carried out in regard to the employer; to confirm
whether the employer and his/her family are fit to employ and take
care of a maid in a humane and caring manner.
As well as jail terms and financial penalties, employers convicted
of maid abuse should receive psychological counselling and also be
banned from ever hiring a maid again.
This may sound tough but employers must realise that hiring a maid
entails a great deal of responsibility and if they are not capable
of being responsible and humane towards their maid then they should
not be allowed the privilege of hiring a maid.
I reiterate that I know that maid abuse here occurs in only a small
minority of cases but in today's civilised society even one case is
one case too many.
Bruce William Swales
Apr 3 Straits Times
