Agencies protest maids protection

Agencies protest maids protection

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Measures implemented by the Philippines to
protect foreign domestic workers in Singapore put an unfair
financial burden on employers here without requiring adequate
commitment from workers, an employment association said
yesterday.

Chua Kim Seng, president of the Foreign Maids Employment
Agencies Association (FMEAA), said the 150-member group would
submit a petition to the Philippines Embassy to protest against
the new provisions as well as the group's exclusion from a list
of 60 agencies accredited by the embassy.

Chua said the measures, which include requirements that the
employer pay for a maid's air ticket to Singapore, allow her to
take weekends off and bear her repatriation costs if the contract
is terminated by either party, gave employers no protection if a
maid decided to withdraw from her contract.

"The FMEAA feels that the cost of the air ticket must be borne
by the maid so there's an impetus for her to work here.
Otherwise, maids may see this as a holiday camp," Chua told a
news conference.