Assistance For Abused Domestic Helper
There are an estimated 11.5 million migrant domestic workers (MDWs) working for households around the world, according to estimates by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In Singapore, over 245,000 MDWs live in their employers’ homes and perform household labour such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for young children and elderly.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore has recently rolled out an announcement that all first-time MDWs are required to attend an interview. The interview will typically be held in the first few months of employment, and attendance is compulsory. This MDW interview allows MOM to ensure that your MDW is settling into her new working and living environment, especially if she is working in Singapore for the first time. If your MDW can adapt well, it can help foster a harmonious relationship between her and your family.
Incidents of abuse and harassment at workplaces are difficult to catch even when they happen in public places such as an office. When one lives with their employer as MDWs do in Singapore, the risk that abuse goes undetected is compounded. While there are measures in place to guard against abuse, including compulsory medical check-ups and house visits, empowering MDWs to seek help in case of abuse is of utmost importance.
The point at which one seeks help is almost as important as whether one seeks help at all. In the most extreme cases, MDWs might wait until their abuse escalates before seeking help. In many other cases, MDWs may have started out with small problems that snowballed into something much more difficult to solve because they were never addressed when it first happened.
At Recruitbee, we aim to educate our domestic helpers to be aware of these organizations and resources where they can seek help. Here are some useful resources if you ever need or suspect that a domestic helper is being abused or ill-treated.
1. Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Ministry of Manpower as the name suggests is government’s ministerial body that works for creating an improved workplace in Singapore for all kinds of workers, especially migrant workers. The body strives to offer equal opportunities, financial security, and real professional growth to the workers in the country. Moreover, the body also aspires to develop and maintain a progressive workforce for the country’s development. The body creates rules for equal job opportunities for workers and formulates different regulations for addressing any case of abuse against the workers. The body also supports to different charity groups working for the welfare of domestic helpers in Singapore. You can reach them through MOM website.
2. The Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training
The Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (FAST) was established in the year 2005 as a charity society supported by MOM or Ministry of Manpower. The society is registered under the Charities Act and lends a helping hand to foreign domestic workers in distress. Moreover, the organization also strives to offer equal working opportunities to all foreign domestic workers through affordable professional training programs. You can get more information about them through their FAST website.
3. H.O.M.E
Humanitarian Organization for Migrant Economics (H.O.M.E) is basically a charity group that was founded in the year 2004. It works tirelessly to safeguard the human rights of these migrant domestic workers. Thus, maids who have been a victim of abuse, exploitation, and human rights violation can contact this charity group for help. The group offers the correct intervention and also provides effectual training and education programs for the domestic helpers. The group is working continuously for achieving economic wellbeing for the domestic helpers. You can reach them through their website: H.O.M.E website.
4. H.e.l.p. Agency
The H.e.l.p. agency is a training firm for the domestic workers which provides them training sessions pertaining to health and first aid issues. The group provides different courses for helpers for handling any kind of health emergencies in children between the age group of 0 and 15 years. The group also gives talks about different women health issues. The founder of the group is Anne Genetet who is a French expatriate as well as a medical doctor. She has been working with many NGOs for providing proper support to the migrant workers in Singapore. H.e.l.p. agency website.
5. Consulate and other Organization for Maids
Always save the contact details of your respective consulates. Here are the resources of a few consulates and important department in Singapore. The Ministry of Manpower (labour department & immigration department) will help you to understand more about your rights (employment, contract…). Singapore Ministry of Manpower – Hotline: 6438 5122 (local callers).
- Philippines consulate: +65-6737-3977 or visit the website
- Indonesia consulate: +65-6737-8020 or link to the website
- Nepal consulate: +65-6337 9169
- Myanmar consulate: 8246-8581
- Bangladesh consulate: +65-6255-0075
- Thailand consulate: +65-6737-2475
- Sri Lanka consulate:6254-4595/6/7
6. Singapore Police
999 is the number that you must dial in case of an emergency or an accident. In case of any emergency or a mistreatment, immediately contact the Singapore police department. The Police department will support you for urgent need.
At Recruitbee, we understand that every home is unique in its needs and preferences. We take prides in listening and advising our customers with a view to seeking the most suitable foreign domestic helper for your home care needs.
Share with us your criteria you want from the domestic helper – these include the nationality, age, religion, marital status, work experience and expected salary range among others.
For more information concerning the processes and cost of hiring a domestic helper,
call us at (65) 6721 9031 / (65) 6721 9032 / (65) 8189 5339.