OBVIOUSLY, maids who work part-time or get pregnant are
blatantly contravening the work permit conditions governing their
employment in Singapore ('100 pregnant maids sent home a year',
Sept 29; and the Ministry of Manpower's reply, 'Why it's wrong to
let maids work part-time'; Oct7).
So more punitive measures should be adopted against them as well
as their abettors.
Migrant female workers, especially maids, are vulnerable to
temptation because they usually carry a heavy financial burden and
emotional baggage, like being separated from their families or
having to deal with philandering husbands back home.
In seeking superficial love or prostituting themselves for quick
money, they throw caution to the wind, hoping to escape the
consequences of their acts.
Apart from repatriation, many may also experience the trauma of
abortions.
The Ministry of Manpower should impose stiff penalties on the
men who cause such pregnancies.
Work pass holders who make maids pregnant should have their
passes cancelled as well.
Surely, the fairer and more effective solution is to hold both
parties liable.
Alice Cheah (Ms)
