Maid applied for work in Europe needs to be in SG to get her application approved, but now her employer is unable to get a new helper until the old one leaves

A foreign domestic helper who finished her two-year contract with an employer went on to apply for work in Europe. Because of the application process, her employer was not able to get another maid or transfer her to another employer, knowing she will not work the full 2 years.

In an anonymous post to Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), an employer in a difficult situation took to social media, asking others for help. She wrote that after her helper’s two-year-contract, her helper notified her of her application to work in Europe.

Because of the visa application process, the helper has to be in Singapore, “But the tricky part is, the visa appointment is by drawing lots every week (like lucky draw). So nobody can tell when is date for the appointment”, the employer wrote.

In her post, the employer added: “the problem is, I can’t send old helper back to Philippines as she need to stay in SG else her application will be void (she has paid $5K to agent for processing) and I can’t transfer her out to another employer knowing she will not work the full 2 years which will be unfair to the new employer”.

She also added that she and her husband are full-time working parents and they needed a new helper “latest by end of Nov this year as I can take more annual leave this year to train new helper but not next year”.

She asked other netizens for suggestions on what she should do. Here’s what they said: