The case of a maid who battled a millionaire has gripped Singapore

Re:The case of a maid who battled a millionaire has gripped ... by exidy on Tuesday September 22, 2020 @10:44PM (#24562426)

FDWs in Singapore are usually live-in, the employer is required to provide appropriate living arrangements, food, medical care and insurance. Most FDWs will remit most of their salary to their home country, where SGD$600 will go a long way.

Singapore is an orderly country and there is some institutional support to safeguard the working conditions of FDWs. However there is a power imbalance between employee and employer, and the FDW may not know her rights, or it may not be in her short-term interest to assert them.

Additionally, many FDWs are employed through agencies who will usually prioritise fee-collection over FDW welfare.

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Re:The case of a maid who battled a millionaire has gripped ... by ezoe on Tuesday September 22, 2020 @11:01PM (#24562498)

It sounds like slavery to me.

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Re:The case of a maid who battled a millionaire has gripped ... by exidy on Wednesday September 23, 2020 @05:40AM (#24564958)

I don't think that's an appropriate term for Singapore, at least. The FDW can resign at any time (whether their contract is finished or not), in which case the employer is obligated to return them to their home city. There is a mandated 1 rest day per week. (note for Westerners accustomed to a 2-day weekend: this is identical to working-class Singaporeans.) The legal system can and does prosecute cases of abuse against FDWs.

Generally speaking FDWs are pleased to have the opportunity to work in Singapore as it is 2-3 times what they could earn at home, but they do hope for a "kindly" employer.

Other countries do not have such a good reputation. Philippines actually banned Saudi Arabia from hiring domestic OFWs because of cases of indentured servitude, abuse and murder.

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Re:The case of a maid who battled a millionaire has gripped ... by nicolas_t on Wednesday September 23, 2020 @03:58AM (#24564259)

It's much worse in neighboring countries like Malaysia. There maids are usually not allowed to leave the house unaccompanied because of the strict immigration laws that would punish heavily the family if the maid ran away.

Between that and the poor living conditions, it's indentured servitude for the time of their contracts. Absolutely awful.

HK is doing much better and has stronger laws to protect domestic workers (actual day off, etc...), Singapore is catching up but in other countries it's extremely sad.

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