Some FDWs Reportedly Want Access to Netflix as Availability of FDW is Affected Due to COVID-19

It’s not controversial to say that we should treat our foreign domestic workers (FDWs) better than we do.

While it seems like cases of maid abuse are on the rise, it’s likely because FDWs are now more informed and reporting mistreatment, meaning it was likely going on for a much longer time.

According to a 2017 study conducted by the independent institute “Research Across Borders,” six out of 10 FDWs in Singapore have experienced abuse.

This abuse can range from verbal threats and being overworked to being beaten or deprived of food.

So, it’s only natural that when FDWs acquire some control and agency, they want to ensure that they’ll be well taken care of here.

Some FDWs Reportedly Want Access to Netflix as Availability of FDW is Affected Due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted power from the employer to the employee when it comes to hiring domestic helpers from abroad.

Due to the extra costs of hiring an FDW during the pandemic and the lower supply of transfer maids, many FDWs are now in a position of power.

In other words, they know they’re in demand, and are now making more requests to hopefully make their time in Singapore a little easier.

According to CNA, some of these requests include having all weekends and public holidays off, access to a Netflix account, and in one instance, an overnight stay with a boyfriend on birthdays.

When these requests were not met, some of the helpers turned down the job offers.

Additional Costs

So, why is it so expensive to hire a helper these days?

Well, owing to the need for Covid-19 tests and a stay-home notice, hiring someone from the Philippines is now about S$4,000, up from S$2,400 before the pandemic.

For this reason, many residents here are looking for transfer maids: maids who have already worked in Singapore but are changing their employers for some reason.

The only problem with this is that the supply of transfer helpers is limited at the moment.

Countries from which domestic helpers are often sourced are also introducing policies to protect their own citizens, and understandably so.

Indonesia, for instance, is planning to implement a “zero placement fee” policy which means domestic workers will come to Singapore debt-free.

This means employers might have to pay even more for FDWs from abroad.

Do We Really Need Domestic Helpers?

While you might scoff at the families who constantly hire maids and even view them as lazy, some households simply cannot do without them.

According to Yale-NUS College Associate Professor Anju Mary Paul, this chiefly boils down to the fact that most of the domestic responsibilities lie with women.

As a result, working women have to slog all day and then come back to look after their kids, cook, and do the chores.

Given that it’s impossible to do this every day for a long period of time, many families choose to hire FDWs to lighten the workload.

Experts warn, however, that with the income gap between Singapore and source countries dwindling, domestic workers may not find it enticing to leave everything behind at home and work here.

So, if you really want an FDW now, you’ll have to give in to some of their requests, which to be honest, doesn’t seem unreasonable at all.

Featured Image: Dr David Sing / Shutterstock.com