Foreign domestic workers pay more to come to S'pore
despite regulations
SINGAPORE: Despite better regulations introduced three
years ago, foreign domestic workers are still bearing more of the
cost to come to Singapore to work.
They are also suffering from fatigue due to long work
hours.
At a news conference, to mark the UN Human Rights Day and
International Migrants' Day later this month, foreign worker NGOs
noted that many workers are still paying off the costs of coming
here - by going without pay for six to ten months.
To hire a maid, employers are charged between S$2,500 and S$3,000.
It is common practice for agencies and employers to deduct that
amount - not just the commission - from workers' salaries.
The NGOs are advocating for changes in agency practices, such as
lowering the cost of coming to work in Singapore, and making the
breakdown of charges more transparent to the workers.
- CNA/sc