ok i found it, DWJobs.org
15 Aug 2012
Maids can now secure transfers
online
SINGAPORE - When she recently
needed a new employer, Ms Glenda Dizon, 28, secured one without the
help of an employment agency. She posted her details - including
her contact number and work experience - online and was contacted
by three prospective employers within three days.
A new job portal has been set up that caters to foreign domestic
workers (FDWs) with Internet access and who are seeking transfers
after working here for some time.
DWJobs.org - which went "live" a
few weeks ago - aims to help FDWs and employers here save on
transfer fees, which can amount to hundreds of dollars. It was set
up by Mr Ian Bland, 43, a permanent resident from Britain who is a
consultant with a non-profit organisation here.
Mr Bland said he has, in recent years, informally sought transfers
for FDWs through online classifieds.
He said demand has grown simply by word of mouth and, with more
FDWs connected to the Internet, the "scaling up" of his informal
operations has now become feasible.
But maids with Internet access remain a minority and, coupled with
the fact that employers can refuse to allow their FDWs a transfer,
Mr Bland does not expect DWJobs.org to have a major impact on
employment agencies.
"The goal is to save on transfer fees when they are not necessary
in all cases," he said.
New employers still need to pay the insurance, bond and Ministry of
Manpower (MOM) processing fees but they would "know that their
employee was not saddled with deductions" of up to two months'
salary for a transfer.
Employment agencies currently handle the bulk of transfers as they
take care of the official paperwork and serve as a "back-up" to
employers.
"Depending on the terms of the service agreement, we may be obliged
to provide a replacement if things do not work out," said Ms
Shirley Ng of the Orange Employment Agency, who felt that the job
portal would mainly appeal to expatriate employers living here for
a limited period.
Ms Ng, who is the former President of the Association of Employment
Agencies (Singapore), said she has employers who approach her
agency after finding a suitable FDW through their friends. "Many
are not familiar with MOM rules and procedures. So, we still play a
bridging role."
Transfer fees can cost employers S$400 to S$600 on average.
Ms Bridget Tan, founder and President of the Humanitarian
Organisation for Migration Economics, said maids coming to the
Republic from source countries are unlikely to benefit from the
portal.
This is because, in countries like the Philippines, there is a
requirement for FDWs to go through agents or participate in
pre-departure training at accredited training centres.
Ms Tan said DWJobs.org gives employers and FDWs an additional
choice, even if many still turn to employment agencies for
filtering services to meet specific needs.
"At the end of the day, it's a question of services against the
cost. You have to decide which way is better," she
said.
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