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Why MOM kept Cambodian Maid Pilot Scheme small

Foreign manpower

  • TODAY (07 March 2013) : Why MOM kept Cambodian Maid Pilot Scheme small

  • TODAY (28 February 2013) : Is the Cambodian maid pilot scheme fair?

Why MOM kept Cambodian Maid Pilot Scheme small
- TODAY, 07 March 2013

  1. We refer to the forum letter (“Is the Cambodian maid pilot scheme fair?”, 28 Feb) where Ms Alice Cheah opined that MOM’s selection of six employment agencies (EAs) in a pilot to assess the suitability of Cambodian foreign domestic workers (FDWs) was anti-competitive.
  2. We reiterated during the industry briefing in early February that the purpose of the pilot is to assess if Cambodian FDWs are suitable for work in Singaporean homes and if there is a demand for them. The size of the pilot has been kept deliberately small, to about 400 FDWs, to facilitate effective monitoring and assessment of the trial. Correspondingly, the number of EAs to be selected for the placement of these FDWs will also be kept small, at no more than six. It would be impractical to have every FDW-placing EA participate in a pilot of this scale. 
  3. The pilot does not evaluate the performance of the selected EAs. Should Cambodia become an approved source country, all EAs will be able to recruit and place Cambodian FDWs with employers in Singapore. 
  4. During the pilot, Cambodian FDWs will be allowed to seek a change in employer through their EAs. If an FDW is unable to find another employer, she will have to return home. This is no different for FDWs from the existing approved source countries. EAs participating in the pilot will also have to make this clear to the Cambodian FDWs and their employers.
Is the Cambodian maid pilot scheme fair?
- TODAY, 28 February 2013

I refer to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) pilot scheme on the deployment of Cambodian maids to Singapore. All licensed maid agencies must comply with criteria set by the ministry and place a minimum security deposit of S$20,000 to operate their business. We are also periodically and randomly audited by MOM officers.

By restricting the pilot scheme to only six agencies, the remaining agents are compromised on their commercial interests and business viability, and this is anti-competitive. All licensed agencies will also depend on how these six agencies fare for the MOM to determine whether Cambodia will be approved as a source country for recruitment.

Also, prospective employers who want to hire a Cambodian maid are restricted to using the services of one of these six agencies.

In addition, Cambodian maids who are disoriented or unsatisfied with one of the six appointed agencies have to depend solely on the agency to address their grievances. If the agency is unable to secure a transfer to other employers, the maid has to be repatriated.

Can the MOM enlighten concerned stakeholders on the scheme in the light of these disadvantages and repercussions?