Written Answer to PQ on Ensuring acceptable advertisements by MDW-placing employment agencies (EAs)

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2349 OF 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 7 NOVEMBER 2023
QUESTION NO. 5181 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider legislating or issuing a code of practice governing acceptable advertisements for maid agencies to ensure that such advertisements are sensitive to foreign domestic helpers and do not cause confusion to consumers.

Answer:

1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) takes a serious view of insensitive advertisements by employment agencies (EAs), which cast Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) in an undignified manner. MOM has existing guidelines on advertising practices and advisories have been issued to EAs placing MDWs.

2. The guidelines and advisories include examples of acceptable advertisements as well as examples of advertisements to avoid, such as the use of inappropriate language.

3. MOM will investigate all cases of insensitive advertising by EAs and enforcement action may be taken against non-compliant EAs.