Migrant Domestic Worker Safety Incidents, Enforcement Actions against Employers or Agencies and Statistics on Insurance Claims in Last Five Years

Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Manpower for each of the last five years (a) what is the (i) number and types of migrant domestic worker safety incidents including falls from height; (ii) number of enforcement actions against employers or agencies; (iii) uptake rate of safety briefings and orientation; and (b) whether the Ministry has data on insurance claim statistics and, if so, what are the average payouts and common causes.

Dr Tan See Leng: Between 2020 and 2024, there were an average of 35 safety incidents involving migrant domestic workers (MDWs) each year. In addition to falls from height, this includes other breaches such as unsafe use of ladders and windows cleaning. Enforcement actions were taken against all employers involved. Over the same period, a total of three employment agencies (EAs) were taken to task for failing to ensure the signing of safety agreements between employers and their MDWs.

All first-time employers and first-time MDWs must attend mandatory orientation programmes that cover essential safety practices. For instance, at the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) attended by first-time employers, safety guidelines pertaining to hanging laundry and cleaning windows are emphasised. First-time MDWs receive hands-on training at their Settling-In-Programme (SIP) on safe window cleaning and laundry hanging processes, as well as fall prevention strategies for high-rise homes. Employment agencies (EAs) must also explain the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) safety requirements to employers and MDWs and ensure that they sign a safety agreement prior to the MDWs' deployment.

MOM does not track MDW insurance claim statistics and payouts.