<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Multi-level marketing firms recruit maids to sell products
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Mavis Toh
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</TD><TD width=10>
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The Ministry of Manpower says foreign maids who engage in multi-level marketing are liable to be fined or jailed. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->She cooks, does the dishes - and sells health products. That's what at least one enterprising maid is doing. But she's breaking the law.
Two months ago, an Indonesian maid entered the world of multi-level marketing (MLM), a form of direct selling.
The 25-year-old has been working as a maid for retiree James Lam for two years. He pays her about $300 a month.
Mr Lam wrote to The Straits Times' Forum two weeks ago, voicing his concern about MLM firms recruiting maids.
He also wanted to know if maids were infringing work permit conditions by joining these schemes.
In an e-mail reply to The Sunday Times, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said foreign maids are allowed to work only in the occupation and for the employer as stated in the work permit card.
'Those who engage in employment or business through multi-level marketing (MLM) activities are committing an offence. They are liable to be fined up to $5,000 or a maximum jail term of six months or both.'
The ministry added that MLM companies that use foreign maids to sell their products or to help recruit members are running foul of the law too.
This offence attracts a maximum sentence of $15,000 fine and/or 12 months' imprisonment.
Mr Lam told The Sunday Times last week that another maid had invited his maid to an MLM talk.
He did not want his maid to be interviewed, but he showed us the brochures she had been given.
On how she and the other maid got involved, he said they went to the MLM firm's office in Beach Road one Sunday. There, Indonesian speakers touted the benefits of some health products and the incentives one stands to gain with the scheme.
The audience of 30 were mostly Indonesian maids.
'I was told they even showed photos of a maid in Hong Kong driving a Mercedes,' said Mr Lam, 68.
That evening, his maid returned with $300 worth of health items from herbal tea bags to calcium powder and an acupuncture apparatus.
He said: 'She's a good worker. It's not easy to get sales through MLM so I'm worried she'll fork out large sums on these products.'
So involved is she now that she has recruited 11 'downlines', all of whom are fellow maids.
It seems that Filipino maids too are being wooed.
Ms Encarnacion Montales, former president of Filipino Overseas Workers in Singapore, said MLM representatives approached two friends at Lucky Plaza last month.
'I told them to find out more and to stay clear if large sums of money are involved,' she said.
Ms Sisi Sukiato, a welfare officer at migrant welfare group Home, said that she also knew of maids approached by MLM companies selling cosmetics and perfumes years ago.
When contacted, Mr Benjamin Tan, honorary member of the Direct Selling Association of Singapore, said MLM companies should not be recruiting foreigners holding various permits.
But he added that with many MLM firms having global offices, there is a grey area if the foreigners have 'already registered' in their home countries.
MLM firm Tianshi Singapore, which sells health products, agreed. The China-based firm has offices in China, Europe, Africa, America and Asia.
Its general manager, Mr Li Li, said the company's health products are very popular in Indonesia. Some maids here could have already been registered as members back home.
'But new memberships here are only for Singaporeans and permanent residents,' he added.
When contacted, the Indonesian Embassy said it is not aware of the MLM issue.
But the embassy's First Secretary, Mr Lanang Seputro, advised Indonesian maids here not to be involved in MLM activities. He added: 'Be prudent and focus on what your main job is, and that is to do the housework well.'
Have you heard of MLM firms targeting maids? Share your stories by e-mailing [email protected]
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Mavis Toh
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
The Ministry of Manpower says foreign maids who engage in multi-level marketing are liable to be fined or jailed. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->She cooks, does the dishes - and sells health products. That's what at least one enterprising maid is doing. But she's breaking the law.
Two months ago, an Indonesian maid entered the world of multi-level marketing (MLM), a form of direct selling.
The 25-year-old has been working as a maid for retiree James Lam for two years. He pays her about $300 a month.
Mr Lam wrote to The Straits Times' Forum two weeks ago, voicing his concern about MLM firms recruiting maids.
He also wanted to know if maids were infringing work permit conditions by joining these schemes.
In an e-mail reply to The Sunday Times, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said foreign maids are allowed to work only in the occupation and for the employer as stated in the work permit card.
'Those who engage in employment or business through multi-level marketing (MLM) activities are committing an offence. They are liable to be fined up to $5,000 or a maximum jail term of six months or both.'
The ministry added that MLM companies that use foreign maids to sell their products or to help recruit members are running foul of the law too.
This offence attracts a maximum sentence of $15,000 fine and/or 12 months' imprisonment.
Mr Lam told The Sunday Times last week that another maid had invited his maid to an MLM talk.
He did not want his maid to be interviewed, but he showed us the brochures she had been given.
On how she and the other maid got involved, he said they went to the MLM firm's office in Beach Road one Sunday. There, Indonesian speakers touted the benefits of some health products and the incentives one stands to gain with the scheme.
The audience of 30 were mostly Indonesian maids.
'I was told they even showed photos of a maid in Hong Kong driving a Mercedes,' said Mr Lam, 68.
That evening, his maid returned with $300 worth of health items from herbal tea bags to calcium powder and an acupuncture apparatus.
He said: 'She's a good worker. It's not easy to get sales through MLM so I'm worried she'll fork out large sums on these products.'
So involved is she now that she has recruited 11 'downlines', all of whom are fellow maids.
It seems that Filipino maids too are being wooed.
Ms Encarnacion Montales, former president of Filipino Overseas Workers in Singapore, said MLM representatives approached two friends at Lucky Plaza last month.
'I told them to find out more and to stay clear if large sums of money are involved,' she said.
Ms Sisi Sukiato, a welfare officer at migrant welfare group Home, said that she also knew of maids approached by MLM companies selling cosmetics and perfumes years ago.
When contacted, Mr Benjamin Tan, honorary member of the Direct Selling Association of Singapore, said MLM companies should not be recruiting foreigners holding various permits.
But he added that with many MLM firms having global offices, there is a grey area if the foreigners have 'already registered' in their home countries.
MLM firm Tianshi Singapore, which sells health products, agreed. The China-based firm has offices in China, Europe, Africa, America and Asia.
Its general manager, Mr Li Li, said the company's health products are very popular in Indonesia. Some maids here could have already been registered as members back home.
'But new memberships here are only for Singaporeans and permanent residents,' he added.
When contacted, the Indonesian Embassy said it is not aware of the MLM issue.
But the embassy's First Secretary, Mr Lanang Seputro, advised Indonesian maids here not to be involved in MLM activities. He added: 'Be prudent and focus on what your main job is, and that is to do the housework well.'
Have you heard of MLM firms targeting maids? Share your stories by e-mailing [email protected]
