Tougher punishment sought for those who abuse their maids<\/p>\n
Zuraidah Ibrahim, Strait Times, Asia News Network, Singapore<\/p>\n
The inventory of injuries read like something from a torture
\nmanual.<\/p>\n
Indonesian maid Muawanatul Chasanah, as most readers know by
\nnow, wasted away from 50 kg to 36 kg in the span of 16 months.
\nLittered all over her figure were 200 scars, sores, cuts and
\nburns, the result of repeated whipping, kicking, punching, and
\nburning with cigarette butts and scalding with hot water.<\/p>\n
Her body finally said enough when her employer Ng Hua Chye
\nfisted her on the face and chest and kicked her on the back. She
\ndied, the latest victim of maid abuse to come before the courts.<\/p>\n
The rest of us were shocked, outraged and horrified that
\nfellow Singaporeans are capable of descending to such depths of
\ndepravity.<\/p>\n
But hang on. Did we not feel the same way a few months ago
\nwhen we found out about the sick ways of one Jennicia Chow Yen
\nPing? She bit her maid's breasts so hard that one nipple later
\nfell off.<\/p>\n
It is clear by now that measures to protect the 140,000
\nforeign maids who work here are still inadequate.<\/p>\n
After the government stiffened the penalties in 1998, the
\nnumber of substantiated maid-abuse cases has dropped from the
\nhigh of 157 in 1997 to 41 last year.<\/p>\n
That is still an average of one case every nine days. Who
\nknows how many more cases go unreported?<\/p>\n
The most promising solution may be to have third parties check
\non the health and welfare of maids.<\/p>\n
It has been suggested in this newspaper that civil-society
\ngroups should play a part. Indeed, it is hardly acceptable that
\neven animals have the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
\nAnimals to champion their rights, while maids have no dedicated
\nnon-government organization devoted to them.<\/p>\n
Another group that should play a role is the medical
\nprofession. The law already requires all maids to go for six-
\nmonthly medical check-ups.<\/p>\n
Presumably, these are to check for disease and pregnancy. A
\nForum page letter on Wednesday from two doctors made the
\nexcellent suggestion that the physicians should also examine the
\nmaids for signs of abuse.<\/p>\n
Indeed, one has to wonder how the doctor who saw Muawanatul
\nmissed the signs.<\/p>\n
Then there is the argument that the government should set up a
\nspecial agency to look after maids' welfare. A system of
\ngovernment inspectors and social workers would certainly help
\nreduce abuse.<\/p>\n
The hefty levy collected by the government each month as a
\nmeans of dampening demand for maids could surely meet the cost of
\nsuch a system.<\/p>\n
Let me suggest another idea, which would not cost the public a
\ncent. Why not make it mandatory for maid agencies to check on the
\nwell-being of the maids they have brought here?<\/p>\n
Require the agent to conduct monthly visits to the employer's
\nhome, at least for the first six months of the contract. Make the
\nagent interview the maid and file a monthly declaration with the
\nManpower Ministry that she is all right.<\/p>\n
If it subsequently emerges that the maid has been abused over
\na prolonged period, hold the agent at least partly accountable.
\nFine the agency, or close it down.<\/p>\n
It makes sense for agents to bear some of the responsibility
\nfor the maids' welfare. After all, part of the reason maids
\ntolerate abuse in silence is the financial debt they owe to the
\nagents. To make any money at all from their big move to
\nSingapore, they have to work for at least six months to a year.
\nUntil then, they live in fear of not being able to pay the
\nagent's fee.<\/p>\n
Agencies may protest that they should not be held accountable
\nfor victimization at the hands of employers. Well, agents who do
\nnot consider the safety of their maids to be their No 1 priority
\nshould not be in this business. Is it unreasonable to expect
\nagents to keep tabs on the well-being of the vulnerable
\nindividuals they have placed in employers' homes?<\/p>\n
If agents are forced to, they will be entrepreneurial and
\ningenious enough to find effective ways to do it. The solution
\nmay be as simple as making it very clear to maids at the outset
\nwhat their rights are, that the moment something goes wrong, they
\nmust phone their agent immediately, and that they will not be
\npenalized for complaining.<\/p>\n
The maids need to know that there is a third party on their
\nside, should their employers turn out to be monsters. It may be
\ntoo intimidating to approach the police. Maids are more likely to
\nturn to their agents -- if those agents make it clear that the
\nmaids' welfare is their top priority.<\/p>\n
And if legislation is needed to ensure that the agents get
\ntheir priorities right, then let's use it. Consumer watchdog Case
\nis implementing voluntary accreditation for maid agencies. It
\nwill become compulsory in two years. I say, speed it up. And make
\nproper monitoring of maids' welfare a condition of accreditation.<\/p>\n
If some agencies cannot meet these conditions and remain in
\nbusiness, so be it. If the result is a massive shortfall in the
\nsupply of maids, so be it. It may be just what Singapore needs to
\nwean itself off its unnatural dependence on live-in domestic
\nhelp.<\/p>\n
Little has been done to upgrade the quality of the domestic-
\nmaid industry. Most agencies do not prepare maids adequately for
\nthe different world they are about to enter. Many of the
\nIndonesians, in particular, are too young, know no English, and
\nhave had no exposure to a modern home.<\/p>\n
Compared with a decade ago, the situation appears to be
\ngetting worse, not better: With an increasing levy, agents have
\nlooked for cheaper sources of maids, and found them in poor
\nvillages in the region.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, domestic life has become more stressful and fast-
\npaced, and fewer Singaporeans than before know enough Malay to
\ncommunicate effectively with their maids.<\/p>\n
Instead of trying to assure quality and a good fit, most
\nagencies simply offer a trade-in opportunity: You can exchange
\nthe maid for another.<\/p>\n
Clearly, punishing the abusive employers who are caught has
\nnot succeeded in deterring others from committing the same, or
\nworse, crimes.<\/p>\n
Singapore needs a system to ensure that abuse cases are
\nuncovered promptly. And the system needs to be so watertight that
\nabusive employers know that they cannot hide their victims away.
\nAgents can be part of the solution.<\/p>\n
When employers know that their maids are being monitored, they
\nwill be more likely to control their bestial urges; and even if
\nabuse occurs, it will at least be cut short, and not dragged on
\nto a deadly end.<\/p>",
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