Mental Health Checks for Foreign Domestic Workers and Employers

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked the Minister for Manpower from 2010 to 2014 (a) what is the number of criminal cases of abuse of foreign domestic workers by employers that occurred because of mental health issues; (b) what is the number of criminal cases of abuse of employers by foreign domestic workers that occurred because of mental health issues; (c) how does the Ministry work with maid agencies and VWOs to educate employers and foreign domestic workers on mental health issues; and (d) whether the Ministry has considered making mandatory or voluntary mental health checks for both employer and domestic worker part of the hiring process.

The Senior Minister of State for Manpower (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for Manpower): The police do not track the number of abuse cases caused by mental illness by either FDWs or employers.

MOM's mandatory education programmes and guidebooks for both new FDWs and new employers cover issues like mental well-being as well as stress management. FDWs are also educated on avenues they can seek help from if they face any issues, including MOM's dedicated FDW hotline number as well as contacts of other Voluntary Welfare Organisations like the Foreign Domestic Workers Association (FAST). Employers are also taught how to identify early signs of depression in their FDWs and how they can seek help.

Mental health checks for FDWs are available at hospitals, the Institute of Mental Health and private specialist clinics for employers who wish to make use of such services. However, such tests are not mandatory as they are time-consuming, costly and not always fool-proof.

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin: I thank the Senior Minister of State for that response. I was wondering what is the Ministry's take on a 2013 survey done by HOME that about two out of 10 maids suffer from mental health illnesses and they are doubly at risk of developing mental health issues compared to the general population given the unusually close proximity of the workplace. So, it is a very unusual employer-employee relationship. I was just wondering if the Ministry has a take on that and how it intends to deal with it.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: The Ministry will undertake to do its best, and I think we all know that we want to ensure Foreign Domestic Workers' well-being as they are working here in Singapore. That is one of the reasons why the Ministry implemented compulsory and mandatory education programmes and training for both new FDWs and employers. These education training and guide books provide information on mental well-being as well as stress management, and also guide the employers on how to identify depression in the FDWs.

When the FDWs go for medical screening, the FDW is supposed to declare whether she has any history of mental disorder. The doctor, in doing his clinical assessment also has to certify whether he is of the view that there is any abnormal mental state, in the medical assessment form.

Having said that, even if you go for a thorough mental health screening, it is only able to detect any mental health issues at the point of assessment. It does not assure that the state of mental well-being will remain, because mental health conditions are influenced by many factors.

At the end of the day, even as we will do as much as possible to prevent any unfortunate incidents, all stakeholders really have to play their role and take responsibility. Employers, if they are concerned about the FDWs' mental condition, should refer them for a medical check-up and treatment as quickly as possible. We also send the FDWs newsletters on a regular basis. If they have any issues, they should either call the police or our MOM hotline or the hotline operated by VWOs like FAST which is a 24-hour hotline. The employment agencies, at the point of recruiting the maids, should also discharge their due responsibility.