Employers Can’t Keep Domestic Helpers’ Salaries Anymore, To Prevent Disputes: MOM

Employers Not Allowed To Keep Domestic Helpers’ Salaries From Jan 2019

Do you have a domestic helper at home or know anyone who does?

If your answer is yes, then this piece of news will be important to you.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released the new Work Permit condition on Sunday (7 Oct) aimed at protecting employers and domestic helpers from monetary disputes.

From 1 Jan 2019, employers can no longer keep any money that belongs to their helpers.

Safekeeping creates higher risks of disputes

MOM received an average of 600 complaints/year about salary disputes over the past 3 years.

The large number is a cause for concern, especially since it’s common practice for employers to safeguard their helper’s money.

In some cases the domestic helper may request for the employer to keep the money, but disagreements can still happen.

Source

Domestic helpers without direct access to their money will have to approach their employers every time they need it.

Disputes could arise when employers face financial difficulties or health conditions that would deter the transactions.

 

Employers who don’t keep a record of the transactions may also face situations where their helpers don’t feel comfortable requesting for their money personally.

Punishment for breaching new Work Permit rules

MOM will act on any complaints it receives regarding compliance to their new policy.

A breach of a the new Work Permit conditions counts as an offence against the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).

Employers can be fined $10,000 and/or be jailed for 12 months, if they’re guilty of contravening the new regulations.

Encouraged to credit salaries online

To track salary payment easily, MOM also encourages employers to credit their helpers’ salary electronically.

Employers can help their domestic helpers open a bank account, for example a POSB Payroll Account, during the Work Permit issuance process.

Source

So from next year, if your helper asks you to hold on to her money, be prepared to decline her request and open a bank account for her instead.

What do you think of the new Work Permit regulations? Sound out in the comments below.

Featured image from Jerry Wong on Flickr.

Fayyadhah Zainalabiden

Fayyadhah spends most of her free time wondering why there's nothing fun to do and wastes the rest of her time on Netflix.

Recent Posts

Continuous heavy traffic expected at S’pore-JB checkpoints till end of 2024: ICA

A record of more than 553,000 travellers crossed both checkpoints on 13 Dec.

22 Dec 2024, 7:25 pm

H5N1 poses ‘highest risk’ of becoming next pandemic, S’pore health authorities monitoring situation

There has been no year-end Covid-19 wave, as had been expected.

22 Dec 2024, 6:42 pm

Wagyu beef worth S$5,700 found in car entering JB from S’pore, M’sian driver arrested

The beef was imported without a veterinary health certificate and halal certification.

22 Dec 2024, 5:40 pm

Long queue forms at Jalan Besar Stadium for tickets to ASEAN Championship semi-final

One fan started queueing as early as 7am.

22 Dec 2024, 4:50 pm

Toys“R”Us in Japan sends parcels in plain boxes before Christmas, praised for protecting ‘Santa’s surprise’

The company made the change after parents said they wanted to make sure their gifts…

22 Dec 2024, 4:36 pm

Google Maps helps Spanish police arrest murder suspects caught transporting corpse on Street View

An incredible twist of fortune for the police -- and a stroke of bad luck…

22 Dec 2024, 2:59 pm