SINGAPORE: The controversial move to raise salaries
for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) - which got 16 agencies into
trouble with the competition watchdog - has not eased the dire
shortage of maids, agencies have told TODAY.
And with Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta signing a new
agreement on Monday, which will pave the way for the lifting of a
two-year freeze on Indonesian maids working in Malaysia, the
situation will get worse, they have added.
Earlier this year, the 16 agencies tried to
collectively raise the monthly salaries of new Indonesian maids to
S$450 but the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) stepped in
and ruled that the agencies had engaged in anti-competitive
conduct.
They have up till June 27 to submit their arguments before the CCS
decides if there was an infringement.
In spite of the CCS move, other agencies - TODAY has learnt - have,
in the last six months, unilaterally raised salaries from S$380 for
new FDWs from Indonesia and the Philippines to up to S$450.
Said Ms Ivy Lee, proprietor of Maid-Power: "There was no benchmark
before as they were paid according to their skills. The pay hike is
overdue and is an accepted norm now."
With countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan reportedly paying the
FDWs about S$600, prospective maids and agents have the bargaining
power.
Ms Lee recounted how an Indonesian domestic helper almost backed
out of coming to Singapore until she secured S$400 in monthly pay
instead of S$380.
Ms Yuni Dwiastuti, 31, a domestic helper who hails from Semarang,
Central Java, earns S$440 now. She has been working here for six
years. And, while she is happy with her employers, she hopes for a
S$50 pay raise. She said: "All my friends who asked for more pay
got it and even the new ones get S$450. I want to provide more for
my family."
Responding to TODAY's queries, a Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
spokesperson noted that FDW household penetration rate in Singapore
is currently "much higher than that in Hong Kong".
Said the spokesperson: "There are about 200,000 FDWs in Singapore,
equivalent to 175 FDWs per 1,000 household, compared to 122 per
1,000 household in Hong Kong."
The high demand accentuates the shortage. Ms Lee, who has been in
the industry for 26 years, noted that many employers do not realise
the severity of the situation.
Advising employers not to change maids at whim, Ms Lee said: "Some
(maids) are willing to forego a pay increase if their employers are
good to them. This is the time for employers to really improve the
living conditions of their helpers."
A property firm owner, Mrs Anna Lee, 49, who pays her maid S$340 a
month, felt that an FDW's salary "should be based on experience".
She noted that there are also other costs borne by employers here,
such as the levy that costs between S$200 and S$265 a month and
incidental costs such as food and utilities.
Association of Employment Agencies of Singapore (ASEAS) president K
Jayaprema reiterated that the long-term solution does not lie in
increasing the pay.
She told TODAY: "We have to ask how we can go beyond pay and make
Singapore an attractive destination for the women. Domestic helpers
are no longer a luxury for Singaporeans - they are a
necessity."
MOM WILL CONTINUE TO FINE-TUNE POLICIES
ASEAS is asking the MOM to reduce the minimum age requirement for
FDWs and to review the current English language entry test. The MOM
had raised the minimum age from 18 to 23 years in 2004 to ensure
that the maids who come here to work are responsible and mature
enough to take care of themselves and adapt to a foreign working
environment.
The MOM spokesperson noted that the Philippines "also maintains a
minimum age of 23 for their domestic workers to work in a foreign
country".
Still, Ms Jayaprema said: "The legal working age is 21 - why does
anyone need to be 23 to do household chores? The passing rate for
the English test is very high but the helpers and their agents do
not want any risk of failure."
According to Ms Jayaprema, there are no entry tests for foreign
domestic workers in other countries. Last Saturday, an Indonesian
maid reportedly tried to hang herself at a maid hostel. According
to a press report, the hostel staff said the maid was feeling
depressed after thrice failing the English language test.
Noting that the average passing rate was "more than 95 per cent",
the MOM spokesperson said that most FDWs "who have completed eight
years of formal education in their home countries would not face
difficulties understanding the test". The spokesperson added that
the tests ensure the FDWs "can understand basic safety instructions
and have basic numeracy and literacy skills to perform household
tasks".
Said the spokesperson: "We regularly examine all options related to
improving the quality and supply of domestic workers coming to
Singapore, including the entry test and range of source countries.
We will continue to work with interested stakeholders to fine-tune
our policies."
In the meantime, ASEAS is banking on its marketing efforts to
alleviate the crunch. Said Ms Jayaprema: "We have taken overseas
trips to market Singapore to agents there, telling them we have
good laws that protect workers and the women are treated reasonably
well here."
- TODAY