COMPLAINT SINGAPORE
Jason Tan · ·https://www.facebook.com/#
Hi everyone, I need to gather your views, especially from the ladies, but guys, feel free to share your thoughts, too, whether from a boyfriend or husband’s perspective.
How do you feel about a male cleaner entering a female restroom?
Here’s what happened: On 11 August 2024, around 10:05pm, a female friend of mine urgently needed to use the restroom at Khatib MRT station due to a stomach upset. We saw that the male toilet was being cleaned by a male cleaner at that time, but the female toilet remained accessible, so my friend entered to use it. About 10 minutes later, the male cleaner entered the female restroom to clean it. I’m unsure if he announced his presence before entering the toilet. But he knew my friend was inside as he spoke to her, informing her he was going to clean the toilet. Despite my friend explaining that she needed more time due to her condition, the cleaner disregarded her request and proceeded to splash water into her cubicle, forcing her to leave immediately. When she exited the cubicle, the cleaner stared at her as if she were in the wrong.
Personally, I feel this incident raises several concerns:
Male Cleaner in Female Restroom: I have asked around, and most women, as well as some men, are uncomfortable with the idea of an opposite-gender cleaner in their restroom. I would like to hear from the ladies if you would be comfortable with a male cleaner entering the female toilet while you are using it.
Timing of the Cleaning: According to the signage, the restroom cleaning was scheduled between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM. Shouldn’t the cleaner have waited or cleaned another area first if the restroom was occupied before the stated time?
Cleaner’s Conduct: The behaviour of the cleaner was unacceptable. Ignoring my friend’s request for more time and splashing water into her cubicle was both disrespectful and unprofessional.
Anyway, I’m not really trying to stir up any controversy, I could try to understand it might be a manpower issue, and people are just doing their jobs. However, I am concerned about privacy and safety. The presence of a male cleaner in a female restroom raises serious concerns about privacy and safety. There is always the potential risk of misconduct, such as the installation of surveillance devices or worse. I would really like to know how comfortable all the ladies feel. Thanks in advance!
