Maid who has not been able to go home for many years wants to know if she should terminate her contract

SINGAPORE: A foreign domestic helper, who was worried that her employers would not keep their end of the employment contract and allow her to go home on leave, took to social media asking others for advice.

In her anonymous post to a Facebook support group for helpers, the maid wrote that her current job scope was to look after her employer’s elderly family member. She wrote that she did not get to go home and visit her family for years. Before she renewed her contract with them, she added that she spoke about the leave but was stuck in Singapore because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Without specifying which year, she added that she then spoke to them about returning in May, which they agreed to.

But what i don’t understand they supposed book my ticket and process my documents. I know they will not allowed me to process my own they will use agency to make my home leave” the maid wrote. She also explained that she advised the family to find a nursing home while she was away to look after her employer’s elderly mother.

“my question if just incase never do my papers yet and book my flight is it possible that I can terminate my contract.? And find employer first before go back home? And I’m willing to help them to teach a new commers. What is a better way.?” the helper asked. In her post, she was worried that her employers would not keep up to their end of the contract and not book her flight home for her. Adding that she missed her family dearly, she even asked if she should terminate her contract with them and find a new employer before going back home. The helper also explained that she was willing to train her employer’s new maid should the situation arise.

Here’s what netizens who commented on her post said:

Earlier this year, another foreign domestic worker took to social media asking other maids and helpers for advice.

In her post to Facebook group FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), she wanted to know if her employer still needed to pay her salary when she went on leave. The maid explained that she was going for a month-long vacation to her hometown.

Netizens who commented on the post had varying answers for her. Other Filipino helpers said that according to their embassy’s contract, the employer would have to pay her salary when she went on leave. But another helper countered and said that only the employment contract signed in Singapore would be valid.

The Manpower Ministry (MOM) website states: “Must the employer pay the salary of their MDW when she is on overseas leave? No, the employer need not do so unless this is provided for in the employment contract”. /TISG

Maid wants to know if her employer will still pay her salary when she goes for a month-long vacation to her hometown