Plans to Regulate Maid Recruitment Agencies

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Manpower whether there are any plans to regulate maid recruitment agencies.

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Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam: All employment agencies (EAs), including those that place foreign domestic workers (FDWs), are currently regulated and licensed under the Employment Agencies Act (EAA). Following the conclusion of a review of the EAA early this year, an enhanced EA regulatory framework has been put in place since 1 April 2011.

EAs that place FDWs require a Comprehensive Licence under the EA licensing framework and are subject to more stringent requirements. For example, EAs that have consistently high placement volume of FDWs have to furnish a security deposit amount of at least $40,000 and up to $60,000. In addition, all EA personnel need to attain a Certificate of Employment Intermediaries (CEI) in order to conduct EA work. EA personnel that place FDWs have to attain the version of CEI which covers the relevant legislation and regulations, in particular the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act that spells out the rights and obligations of FDWs and FDW employers.

Under the EA Licence Conditions, there is also a specific section dedicated to the obligations of EAs in the placement of FDWs. It requires, inter alia , the provision of acceptable food and accommodation prior to the issuance of Work Permits, as FDWs need to pass all the entry requirements before they can be deployed. EAs are also obliged to furnish prospective FDW employers with the employment history of FDWs. This ensures employers are able to make an informed decision when choosing which FDW to hire.

To help employers to make more informed decisions when selecting an EA, the EA Directory hosted on MOM's website has been revamped since 1 January 2011 to include useful indicators for FDW employers. For example, the directory displays each EA's success rate in placing FDWs who stay with their employers for a year or more as well as the FDW Entry Test passing rate of the FDWs brought in.

Beyond these recent improvements to the EA regulatory framework, MOM is also working with the industry to develop a new voluntary trustmark scheme for EAs which aspire to higher levels of service excellence.

MOM will continue to monitor the EA industry and, if necessary, make further refinements to the EA regulatory framework, taking into account the diverse operating models in the EA industry.