MANDATORY REST DAY FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS

MANDATORY REST DAY FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS: * * *

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8.

Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) if he will provide an update on the progress made in securing one rest day a month for foreign domestic workers through the standard employment contracts drawn up by the Association of Employment Agencies and CaseTrust since 2006; (b) whether the Ministry is satisfied with this progress; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider legislating mandatory rest days to ensure more effective enforcement and better protection for foreign domestic workers.

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Mr Gan Kim Yong: The Ministry of Manpower is committed to safeguarding the well-being of foreign domestic workers, or FDWs, in Singapore. As part of the Work Permit conditions, employers are responsible for the well-being of their FDWs, including the provision of adequate rest. Employers who fail to comply with this requirement can be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed up to six months. They will also be barred from hiring another FDW.

In addition, the accreditation bodies have, in 2006, introduced a standard employment contract for FDWs. All accredited employment agencies are required to use this standard contract. The standard contract requires employer to stipulate the number of rest days per month, and zero is not an option. Employers are also required to compensate their FDWs salary, should the FDWs work during their rest days.

This is a more practical approach than legislating a fixed number of rest days per month for FDWs, given the unique nature of domestic work. Households that have, for example, disabled family members who require constant attention may find it difficult to release the FDW for a prescribed period every month. Therefore, allowing households the flexibility to work out an employment arrangement with their FDWs, including paying their FDWs for not taking their rest days, is a more sensible approach. Nonetheless, MOM encourages employers to grant FDWs rest days regularly, wherever possible.

As a result of our education and enforcement efforts, together with other measures to enhance the protection of FDWs, most FDWs are happy working in Singapore according to a recent survey, and the reported cases of abuse have remained low. There is therefore no need at this point for MOM to legislate a mandatory rest day.

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