Foreign domestic workers pay more to come to S'pore despite regulations
SINGAPORE: Despite better regulations introduced three years ago, foreign domestic workers are still bearing more of the cost to come to Singapore to work.
They are also suffering from fatigue due to long work hours.
At a news conference, to mark the UN Human Rights Day and International
Migrants' Day later this month, foreign worker NGOs noted that many
workers are still paying off the costs of coming here - by going
without pay for six to ten months.
To hire a maid, employers are charged between S$2,500 and S$3,000. It
is common practice for agencies and employers to deduct that amount -
not just the commission - from workers' salaries.
The NGOs are advocating for changes in agency practices, such as
lowering the cost of coming to work in Singapore, and making the
breakdown of charges more transparent to the workers.
- CNA/sc