Woman Charged For Not Paying Domestic Worker’s Salary for 1 Year

Last Updated on 2021-09-24 , 4:35 pm

Being a domestic helper here in Singapore is no easy task. Apart from a minimal salary (by local standards anyway), a domestic helper is also required to work almost every day of the week.

What’s more, their lives also depend on their employers’ temperament. If they’re lucky, they can get employers like this. But if they’re not so lucky, they could get hellish bosses like this.

And this:

Woman Charged For Not Paying Domestic Worker’s Salary for 1 Year

Imagine working your ass off for one entire year…

Only to have your salary hung up in the air.

Sounds like something to get utterly incensed over? Well, that happened to this particular domestic worker over here.

Apparently, a maid, Emferatriz Borja Montefolka, had not been paid by her employer, Santa Maria Michelle Theresa, for a whopping 12 months from April 2018 to April 2019.

As a result, Santa currently faces 13 charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

If convicted, she could face a jail term of up to a year, a fine of up to S$10,000 or both penalties for each individual charge.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has since stated that payment could be made through electronic means such as GIRO or direct bank transfer.

“Employers must do so if requested by migrant domestic workers,” they said. “This ensures prompt payment and minimises salary disputes due to transparent records,” it added.

But Here’s The Thing

Apparently, Santa isn’t the only one in trouble with the law here.

Over on the “victim’s” side, Emferatriz had allegedly worked part-time at another employer’s residence, from August 2018 to April 2019.

It’s unknown whether she had been forced to do so due to the lack of remuneration from Santa. What’s clear, however, is that Emferatriz has been charged for working without a valid work pass.

As such, she could face a jail term of up to two years, a fine of up to S$20,000 or both.

Meanwhile, the alleged woman who had illegally employed her, Norliza Kamardin, has been charged for the employment of a migrant domestic worker without a valid work pass.

Due to this, she could face an imprisonment term of up to a year, a fine of between S$5,000 and S$30,000, or both.

Incidents

Unfortunately, domestic helpers in Singapore have been subjected to even worse before.

In 2019, a foreign domestic worker alleged that she was mistreated and fed little amounts of food.

To be specific, she stated that she only received three spoons of rice and a mouthful of meat for lunch.

Also, she was told that she “[doesn’t] deserve to be treated well.”

Whenever she got sick, she was tasked to use her own leave days instead of medical leave.

If you know anyone who may need help, you can reach out to the Ministry of Manpower at their FDW helpline number 1800 339 5505 (for local calls) or their Center for Domestic Employees at 1800 225 5233 (24 hours).

You can also choose to lodge a complaint via MOM Services Center, Hall A, which is located at 1500 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 339946.

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Featured Image: Dr David Sing / Shutterstock.com