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http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,193386,00.html?
Number of such abuse cases falling
Welfare groups say S'poreans now less tolerant of ill-treatment of foreign workers
By Genevieve Jiang
February 20, 2009
NOT TYPICAL: Suzie and Jane allege that their boss abused them. Fortunately, such cases are on the decline. TNP PICTURE: MOHD ISHAK
A POLICE officer was sentenced to a year's jail late last year for kicking and slapping his maid on five occasions.
That same month, a mother and daughter were sentenced to between four and six weeks' jail for taking turns to abuse their Indonesian maid within three months of her starting work for them.
On Tuesday, news broke that a Singaporean pub owner had been accused of verbally abusing, then beating and threatening to burn his Filipino employee when she refused to cower before him.
The Singaporean employer abusing a foreign worker has become an all-too-tired headline.
But it does not reflect an increase in the number of foreign worker abuse cases here, said at least two advocacy and welfare groups for foreign workers.
It was reported last year that the number of substantiated maid abuse cases handled by the police fell from 157 cases in 1997 to 68 in 2007.
And although the number of calls for help to Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) have gone up from 177 in 2007 to 266 last year, the group's president, Mr John Gee, said a breakdown of the figures showed a drop in the number of abuse complaints.
Out of the 266 calls received last year, 262 were from female domestic workers.
Of these, the majority were about salary problems, not getting a day off, and problems transferring to another employer.
Said Mr Gee: 'Increasingly, Singaporeans in general are more aware, more critical, and less tolerant of abusive behaviour towards foreign workers.
Problem families
'And usually, cases of abuse happen in families who have a range of other problems, such as financial and emotional problems.
'The multitude of stresses on the family may cause them to snap and the maid becomes the convenient target for releasing their frustration.'
At the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home), the number of foreign workers asking for help has increased from 50 to 60 cases a month previously to about 150 cases a month in the past two months.
But Mr Jolovan Wham, Home's executive director, said the surge in cases was due to the economic crisis, resulting in workers losing their jobs and having problems with salaries and housing.
He was not able to provide statistics on maid abuse cases, but said the recession could be a reason a minority of errant employers are lashing out at their workers.
Not all errant employers come from the lower income group, said Mr Gee.
One example was that of a domestic maid who was not given enough food to eat by her employer, who was well-to-do and lived in landed property.
When a neighbour, who was concerned about the maid's ailing health, tried to offer her food, the employer flew into a rage.
Late last year, the neighbour called TWC2 for help, and the case was eventually resolved.
Said Mr Gee: 'Now and then, I come across people who use the phrase, 'domestic workers and their owners'.
'It reflects a disturbing viewpoint that domestic workers are personal property, not to be treated like human beings.
'So it means they can be made to work longer hours, and we don't need to say 'please' or 'thank you' to them.'
But he maintains that such errant employers are the minority.
Mr Wham believes education is key in improving the situation.
He said: 'More efforts should be made to educate both the employer and employee about their obligations and rights.
'Managing employer-employee relationship is integral as well. Some companies may need to be equipped with effective dispute resolution skills to prevent conflicts from escalating into outright abuse.'
But some Singaporean employers believe there are more inspiring than horror stories here.
Said Madam Annie Lim, 56, a retiree and employer of two maids: 'I've heard of Singaporean employers who go the distance for their maids by paying for their medical bills, celebrating their birthdays, and even helping them to get married.'
Number of such abuse cases falling
Welfare groups say S'poreans now less tolerant of ill-treatment of foreign workers
By Genevieve Jiang
February 20, 2009
NOT TYPICAL: Suzie and Jane allege that their boss abused them. Fortunately, such cases are on the decline. TNP PICTURE: MOHD ISHAK
A POLICE officer was sentenced to a year's jail late last year for kicking and slapping his maid on five occasions.
That same month, a mother and daughter were sentenced to between four and six weeks' jail for taking turns to abuse their Indonesian maid within three months of her starting work for them.
On Tuesday, news broke that a Singaporean pub owner had been accused of verbally abusing, then beating and threatening to burn his Filipino employee when she refused to cower before him.
The Singaporean employer abusing a foreign worker has become an all-too-tired headline.
But it does not reflect an increase in the number of foreign worker abuse cases here, said at least two advocacy and welfare groups for foreign workers.
It was reported last year that the number of substantiated maid abuse cases handled by the police fell from 157 cases in 1997 to 68 in 2007.
And although the number of calls for help to Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) have gone up from 177 in 2007 to 266 last year, the group's president, Mr John Gee, said a breakdown of the figures showed a drop in the number of abuse complaints.
Out of the 266 calls received last year, 262 were from female domestic workers.
Of these, the majority were about salary problems, not getting a day off, and problems transferring to another employer.
Said Mr Gee: 'Increasingly, Singaporeans in general are more aware, more critical, and less tolerant of abusive behaviour towards foreign workers.
Problem families
'And usually, cases of abuse happen in families who have a range of other problems, such as financial and emotional problems.
'The multitude of stresses on the family may cause them to snap and the maid becomes the convenient target for releasing their frustration.'
At the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home), the number of foreign workers asking for help has increased from 50 to 60 cases a month previously to about 150 cases a month in the past two months.
But Mr Jolovan Wham, Home's executive director, said the surge in cases was due to the economic crisis, resulting in workers losing their jobs and having problems with salaries and housing.
He was not able to provide statistics on maid abuse cases, but said the recession could be a reason a minority of errant employers are lashing out at their workers.
Not all errant employers come from the lower income group, said Mr Gee.
One example was that of a domestic maid who was not given enough food to eat by her employer, who was well-to-do and lived in landed property.
When a neighbour, who was concerned about the maid's ailing health, tried to offer her food, the employer flew into a rage.
Late last year, the neighbour called TWC2 for help, and the case was eventually resolved.
Said Mr Gee: 'Now and then, I come across people who use the phrase, 'domestic workers and their owners'.
'It reflects a disturbing viewpoint that domestic workers are personal property, not to be treated like human beings.
'So it means they can be made to work longer hours, and we don't need to say 'please' or 'thank you' to them.'
But he maintains that such errant employers are the minority.
Mr Wham believes education is key in improving the situation.
He said: 'More efforts should be made to educate both the employer and employee about their obligations and rights.
'Managing employer-employee relationship is integral as well. Some companies may need to be equipped with effective dispute resolution skills to prevent conflicts from escalating into outright abuse.'
But some Singaporean employers believe there are more inspiring than horror stories here.
Said Madam Annie Lim, 56, a retiree and employer of two maids: 'I've heard of Singaporean employers who go the distance for their maids by paying for their medical bills, celebrating their birthdays, and even helping them to get married.'
