SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Wednesday (July 16) sent an advisory to employment agencies (EAs) in the wake of recent media reports on the treatment of foreign domestic workers in Singapore. In the advisory, the ministry cautioned agencies to ensure that all advertising collaterals “accord foreign domestic workers (FDWs) basic respect and human dignity”. MOM also reiterated that it is unacceptable for agencies to display FDWs in an “undesirable manner” which gives the impression that FDWs are “commodities to be ‘tested’ or traded”, including the mentioning of fees. However, employment agencies can continue to communicate the full schedule of their fees and policies to prospective clients upon their request. Since the warning was issued, some agencies were spotted taking down posters which emphasised low fees or discounts. Agencies Channel NewsAsia spoke with said the advisory would not affect their business strategies. One of them is Homekeeper, which an Al Jazeera report says treated its workers like commodities, although MOM says it has found no evidence of wrongdoing. For us, we dont need to take much action, because all along, our marketing strategy is that we do not advocate price wars, said Homekeepers General Manager Mark Chin. We will tell the customers what we can provide (in terms of) the different types of training. Some agencies have also welcomed MOMs advisory, saying that it creates a level playing field. Its fair competition for all the maid agencies in Singapore, said Flora Sha, Bukit Timah Branch Manager at United Channel Employment Agency.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 01:38:28 +0000
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