Disease and Pregnancy Screenings for Foreign Domestic Workers

Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Manpower in respect of the 6-Monthly Medical Examination (6ME) to screen for infectious diseases and pregnancies in foreign domestic workers (FDWs), in each of the last two years (a) what is the percentage of FDWs who have been found to have a notifiable infectious disease or critical health issues; and (b) what is the percentage who have been found to be pregnant.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: A medical examination framework for Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) is in place to safeguard the public interest, and the health of the FDWs themselves. FDWs first have to undergo and pass a medical examination within 14 days after arriving in Singapore, before they are issued with their work permits. After they begin working in Singapore, they are also required to go for 6-Monthly Medical Examinations (6MEs).

This framework helps to ensure that FDWs are free from infectious diseases that pose a risk to public health in Singapore. Such diseases might harm the FDWs or the people they come into contact with. This is especially important as FDWs live and work in close proximity to employers and their family members, including children and the elderly.

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A pregnancy test is also required to curtail problems which may arise if female foreign workers become pregnant and give birth in Singapore. Given that the period of gestation is nine months, requiring a test only annually risks the possibility of some pregnancies being carried to full term without being detected.

The proportion of FDWs who have been found with such diseases or pregnant through the 6ME has not been high, averaging about 0.28% of the FDW population each year, over the last two years. The 6ME remains relevant nonetheless as the repercussions to affected households can be significant. The Government will continue to monitor these figures to safeguard the health and well-being of FDWs, the members of the households they work in, and the public.