Employers shd charge 'training fee' for maids moving abroad
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STOMPer pleeze spotted a poster outside a maid agency which encouraged the domestic helpers to work in Hong Kong for 'better benefits'. However, it is only fair that local employers charge them a fee for the training received while in Singapore, said the STOMPer.
In a Straits Times report on March 26, 2011, according to Indonesian women training to be maids, most of them favoured Taiwan or Hong Kong, but only a handful chose to go to Singapore. Their main reasons were the low salary but high requirements to work here, as compared to the other countries.
Many who have worked here and returned to their country are also reluctant to go back as they faced tough employers. The main reason is the lack of freedom and even lack of food to eat, in comparison to employers in Hong Kong or Taiwan.
Some come here to work just to pick up skills like cooking, cleaning and even the ability to speak Mandarin -- before they move on to other countries.
Said pleeze in his contribution (Apr 20):
"I saw this poster outside a maid agency encouraging local domestic helpers to work in Hong Kong for better benefits.
"However it didn't mention that the domestic helpers are provided food and lodging there.
"Is this one of the contributing factors why there are lesser helpers in Singapore?
"Also, is it a reason for the pay increase but no improvement in quality?
"Local employers have trained these helpers only to let the agency send them to other countries.
"The employers should charge a training fee too."