While the employment contract stipulates the minimum one day off entitlement for the maid in a month, if the day off is not taken, the employer would have to compensate the maid in cash.
Standard contracts on hiring maids launched
The Association of Employment Agencies and Casetrust have come up with two standard contracts for maid employers.
The contracts will have a service agreement between the agency and the employer and a second employment contract between the employer and the maid.
Under the agreement, there would be a well defined replacement policy and a fairer refund policy reducing the possibility of disputes.
While the employment contract stipulates the minimum one day off entitlement for the maid in a month, if the day off is not taken, the employer would have to compensate the maid in cash.
All employment agencies accredited by the two bodies (Casetrust and Association of Employment Agencies) would have to implement the standard contracts by the 15th of September 2006.
CaseTrust for Employment Agencies
The Employment Contract between the Employer and the Foreign Domestic Worker
This contract is designed to help smoothen employer/employee relationships from the onset, by minimising any ambiguities on the employment terms.
The standard contracts were crafted with due consideration given to the three stakeholders, namely the Employers, Foreign Domestic Workers and the Employment Agencies. The implementation of these contracts will create a level playing field resulting in greater professionalism among practitioners. If there are disputes arises on the contract, the matter will be referred to the accreditation bodies or employment agencies for mediation. If parties fail to come to term, the dispute can be brought to an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
Note that Employment Agencies are not allowed to amend the Service Agreement or the Employment Contract without the prior approval of their accreditation body.
Explanatory Note for Employment Contract
Sources and Relevant Links:
Channel NewsAsia Standard contracts on hiring maids launched 20 July 2006
Reuters Singapore rejects calls for maids' mandatory day off 10 March 2006
HRW Singapore: New Contract Shortchanges Domestic Workers 22 July 2006
HRW 2005 report Maid to Order: Ending Abuses against Migrant Domestic Workers in Singapore
