Update on Effectiveness of Compulsory Day off Policy for Foreign Domestic Workers
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Kok Heng Leun’s inquiry regarding the effectiveness of the compulsory rest day policy for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) and statistics on rest day complaints for 2014 and 2015. Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say responded that the 2013 policy requires weekly rest days but allows for monetary compensation if the FDW agrees to forgo them. Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say reported that 97.5% of FDWs received at least one monthly rest day in 2015, up from 53% in 2010, while weekly rest days increased to over 55%. Approximately 40 rest day-related complaints were received during the period, though investigations found no violations, only misunderstandings or requests to change agreements. To further minimize disputes, enhanced In-Principle Approval letters now detail salary and rest day terms in the workers' native languages before they arrive in Singapore.
Transcript
14 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for Manpower (a) if he can provide an update on the effectiveness of the compulsory day off policy for foreign domestic workers; and (b) for 2014 and 2015, what is the number of (i) foreign domestic workers who do not have a weekly day off, (ii) foreign domestic workers who are not compensated if they do not have a weekly day off, (iii) complaints which the Ministry has received about employers not granting rest days and (iv) complaints which the Ministry has received about employers not compensating foreign domestic workers in lieu of not taking their weekly day off.
Mr Lim Swee Say: The rest day policy introduced in 2013 requires employers to provide their foreign domestic workers (FDWs) with a weekly rest day while giving employers the flexibility to compensate their FDWs with extra pay if the FDW agrees to work on her rest day. This arrangement is in recognition that some employers may have genuine difficulties giving FDWs weekly rest days and that some FDWs may prefer the option to work and earn more by forgoing their rest days.
This policy has been making encouraging progress. Since its introduction, the vast majority of our FDWs have reported having rest days. In a 2015 survey of FDWs, it was found that 97.5%, or almost all, received at least one rest day every month, up from 53% in 2010. Furthermore, more than 55% received a weekly rest day in 2015, up from 13% in 2010.
Complaints from FDWs to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regarding rest day arrangements and compensation-in-lieu of rest days are small in number. There were around 40 complaints received by MOM from 2014 to 2015, representing less than 0.02% of the FDW population. No rest day-related violations were found in these cases from MOM's investigations. Our investigations showed that some of the FDWs wanted to change their rest day agreement with their employers while others were unsure if they had been paid rest day compensation. MOM resolved these cases after clarification with the respective FDWs and employers.
To minimise misunderstandings, we have enhanced the In-Principle Approval letter sent out to all FDWs before they arrive in Singapore. This letter, in the FDW's native language, details the FDW's basic salary, the number of agreed rest days, and the compensation for each rest day forgone. The letter allows the FDW to be fully aware of her salary and rest day compensation before she decides to come to Singapore.
It is important that FDWs are treated fairly. FDWs who need assistance on issues relating to rest days can approach MOM through our MOM FDW hotline.