Data on MDWs Seeking Treatment for Mental Health Conditions
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the data on migrant domestic workers (MDWs) seeking mental health treatment and whether they encounter legal issues during the process. Dr Hamid Razak sought statistics from 2021 to 2025 and suggested including mental health assessments in mandatory pre-employment medical examinations. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang Wei Zhong responded that fewer than 20 MDWs sought such assistance annually between 2022 and 2024, with no reported legal issues. He noted that the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act mandates employers cover mental health medical expenses, with penalties for non-compliance including fines and imprisonment. Finally, he explained that pre-employment checks currently involve self-declaration, with further assessments recommended only if necessary to keep medical costs manageable for employers.
Transcript
3 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Minister for Manpower (a) from 2021 to 2025, whether there is data on the number of migrant domestic workers in Singapore who have (i) sought treatment for mental health conditions or (ii) encountered legal issues when seeking treatment for mental illnesses; and (b) if so, what is the data.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, each year, between 2022 and 2024, less than 20 migrant domestic workers (MDWs) sought medical assistance at public healthcare institutions, polyclinics and general practitioners (GPs) for mental health reasons. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has not come across any cases of MDWs encountering legal issues when seeking such assistance.
MDWs' legal rights to access medical treatment, including for mental health conditions, are protected under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act which requires employers to cover their MDW's medical expenses, including for mental health treatments. Employers who deny their MDWs of necessary medical treatment could be fined up to $10,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months. The employer may also be barred from employing migrant workers in the future.
Mr Speaker: Dr Razak.
Dr Hamid Razak (West Coast-Jurong West): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. The reason I am asking this supplementary question is that we have feedback on the ground that some MDWs have cited mental health issues to seek secondary employment as well as breaking down soon after seeking employment following a medical assessment prior to getting employment. I think the question has been raised in the House before, on whether the Ministry would consider, at some point in time, when the burden of mental health illness, which is a certain threshold, if mental health assessment be part of the pre-employment assessment for MDWs in future.
Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong: I thank the Member for the question. Today, MDWs are required to declare whether they have mental health conditions, as part of their pre-employment medical examination. So, where there is a positive declaration or any suspicion that they have mental health conditions, the attending doctor, at that time, may recommend further assessments, but with additional costs.
This approach helps to keep medical tests and costs manageable for the employers in general, whilst ensuring that the individuals with healthcare conditions can be identified for further necessary follow-up. So, employers with concerns about their MDWs' mental health well-being, are also advised to seek medical advice, which may also be referred to a mental health facility or care professional.