ABUSE OF FOREIGN MAIDS BY EMPLOYERS (Measures to discourage)

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Labour what measures are being taken to discourage abuse of foreign maids by employers.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry condemns the abuse of foreign domestic workers by their employers. The most effective deterrent against such abuse is to promptly investigate any allegations of abuse and to charge employers in court whenever there is evidence of abuse. The Ministry works closely with the Police to ensure that employers who abuse their maids are dealt with firmly. Employers who are convicted of abusing their foreign domestic maids face severe penalties, including imprisonment and caning. They are also barred from future employment of foreign domestic workers. This extends to the person's spouse as well, to prevent future abuse in the household.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, would the Minister consider extending labour legislation to maids as with other foreign workers?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, domestic workers have been exempted from the Employment Act all along and they include local domestic workers, not just foreign domestic workers. The reason is that unlike other employees, domestic workers work for a single employer and live with their employer for the whole period of time. So, foreign domestic workers will live in the households of their employer. Their terms and conditions of employment are highly variable. Some employers require their domestic maids to look after babies; others require their maids to tend to aged persons; some require their maids to do cooking and household cleaning; others just require them only to do maybe household cleaning and no cooking.

The fact that the maid lives with the employer and that the conditions are so highly variable it makes it very difficult to have this category of workers included in the Employment Act, which can only spell out very general conditions. In fact, the Employment Act exempts or excludes seamen from such coverage basically for the same reason that they are also working and living on board a vessel for the whole duration, essentially 24 hours a day on board the vessel. Hence, we think that it is not practical to try to include foreign or even local domestic workers within the ambit of the Employment Act.

Nevertheless, my Ministry does provide service to the domestic workers, be they foreign or local domestic workers, in the sense that if they have any disputes or grievances with their employer, they are free to come to my Ministry to lodge a complaint or to raise their concerns. My Ministry offers a free conciliation service to such people. Our experience is that our conciliation effort has usually been quite successful. In the case of foreign domestic workers who bring their problems to our Ministry, we have in most cases been able to resolve them amicably.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, is the Minister aware that on 19th July an article appeared in the West Australian under the heading "Asia's Shame"? Singapore is alleged to have a poor record of Filipina maid employment as we have not acceded to the Philippine government's request to cooperate with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Mr Speaker: What is your question, Dr Soin?

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: My question is whether the Minister is aware of this letter and whether the allegations in this article have any substantiation.

Mr Speaker: You are seeking confirmation as to the accuracy of the article. I am afraid your question is disallowed under the Standing Orders. Do you have any other questions?

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: No, Sir.