‘Do our helpers think we’re rich?’ — Employers share their financial burdens after being asked for salary advance by their maid

After receiving a request for a salary advance from their maid, a concerned employer took to social media to ask if foreign domestic workers (FDWs) think they are rich.

An anonymous member of Facebook page FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum) highlighted on Monday (Aug 29) that their helper recently asked for an advance because her mom fell sick, and she wanted to send some money back home.

The employer didn’t give the advance but gave the helper S$200 instead as a gift. “She was reluctant but in the end accepted it. I can understand her reluctance as her pay is S$700, so of course, she would prefer S$700 instead of the S$200 I gave,” said the employer.

Eventually, they agreed to the salary advance, as the helper was “visibly upset”.

The incident got the employer thinking if FDWs think they were rich.

The original poster asked if “Singapore middle-income employers” in the group could share an overview of their monthly expenses to give FDWs “an idea of the financial responsibilities” taken each month.

“I just feel like my helper thinks we’re super rich, cuz we always go holiday, etc. We have our own financial burdens that we definitely did not share with them, but I know that she thinks because we’re the employer, we have money on us at all times,” the original poster added.

The employer said that there were moments when after paying all expenses, they had S$30 to S$50 left with no savings.

Facebook user Audi Chan agreed that many helpers do think their employers are rich based on their meals and residence.

“But little did they know that we sometimes barely have much money or need to save for rainy days.”

He explained that helpers had the means to borrow from their employers, whereas the latter couldn’t go to their employers, loan sharks or others when in need of extra cash.

“That’s why there’s a lot of helpers prefer expat employer than local since expat can pay them well and prove a lot more benefits to them…These expat employers normally have their company paid for these helper salaries and expenses which also include the house and food allowance that these expat use and stay…”

A netizen revealed that their monthly expenses reach around S$4,000 a month. “So you can imagine having only a few dollars left each month. I def not rich like my helper thought.”

Meanwhile, an admin of the page advised other employers with similar situations to practice extra caution before giving salary advances. /TISG

Maid says she’s ‘tired, pressured and sleepless’ after her employers shifted into a house double the size, made her pack over 80 boxes and was not even given food