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Good Bosses Needn’t Fear Being Unduly Penalised

Employment practices
Ministry of Manpower (7 September 2007): Good Bosses Needn't Fear Being Unduly Penalised

 

The Straits Times (5 September 2007): Don't Penalize Bosses Who Treat Maids Well


 

Good Bosses Needn't Fear Being Unduly Penalised
- The Straits Times, 7 September 2007

Please refer to “Don't penalize bosses who treat maids well” (Straits Times, 5 Sep 2007) by Mdm Quek Yee Kai.

2.   First time employers and employers who have changed more than four foreign domestic workers (FDW) within a 12-month period are required to attend the Employer's Orientation Program. This programme aims to help employers better manage their employment relationship with their FDWs. Employers who treat their FDWs well need not fear being unduly penalized. Some FDW changes such as when an FDW fails her medical test are excluded as applications.

3.   For the convenience of FDW employers who work full-time, the orientation class is conducted after office hours on Wednesdays (Mandarin classes) and Fridays (English classes). This arrangement has worked well for employers. We will conduct classes at other times, if there is sufficient demand.


 

Don't Penalise Bosses Who Treat Maids Well 
- The Straits Times, 5 September 2007

As employers of a foreign domestic worker (FDW), we sometimes have to change maids due to the maid's personal reasons, such as if a family member falls seriously ill and needs them to go home.

These cases should not be considered in the limit on the number of maids these employers can have before they must attend the Employer Orientation Programme (EOP), as long as they can provide documents to support their case. After all, the main purpose of the programme is for employers to live in harmony and treat their maids well.

We let our maids return home to look after their loved ones because we know they will be worried about them, just as we would be if we were working overseas.

Furthermore, the EOP course is available only on Fridays from 6pm to 9pm.

For maid employers who work in the private sector, these times are not feasible. Most of us work Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 6pm or 9am to 6.30pm, unlike the public sector. It would be good if more sessions are available during week, and preferably one on the weekend.