Articles > Facts, Research, Analysis
Fact sheet: Foreign domestic workers in Singapore (complaints and abuses)
What are the main complaints made by foreign domestic workers? Complaints vary to some extent, according to nationality. A 2005 survey of 115 Indonesian domestic workers who had worked in Singapore found that more than two-thirds complained of limited access to information and communication with other people, not being allowed
Fact sheet: Foreign domestic workers in Singapore (basic statistics)
How many foreign domestic workers are there in Singapore? There were 201,000 female domestic workers in Singapore on Work Permits (end of 2010), as reported by the Ministry of Manpower. That made it about one for every five households in the country. In 2002, there were 140,000. Where do they
Hired on sufferance: China’s migrant workers in Singapore
This is a report published on China Labour Bulletin on February 10, 2011, compiled by Aris Chan. It calls on the Singapore government to abolish its employer-sponsored work visa policy, which gives employers excessive power and control over foreign workers --- Hired on Sufferance: China's migrant workers in Singapore There
Fact sheet: Workmen’s compensation for traffic accidents
The scope of the Workmen's Injury Compensation Act includes death and injury sustained while travelling in employer-provided vehicles, but not in public-transport vehicles. Section 3, subsection 2 of the Act expressly says: 3 (2) An accident happening to an employee while he is, with the express or implied permission of his
Fact sheet: Retention of passports and important personal documents
It is against the law for employers and agents to retain another person's passport without "reasonable excuse". Passports Act, Section 47, subsection (5) says: 47 (5) If — (a) a person has or retains possession or control in Singapore of a foreign travel document; and (b) the person knows that
Fact sheet: Work permit holders have lowest crime rate of three categories
There is a common idea that migrant workers are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in Singapore. When, in 2008, some residents in the Serangoon Gardens area expressed their opposition to a dormitory for migrant workers being set up in the neighbourhood, statements were made that it would be
Foreign domestic workers and their employers generally happy, says MOM from a 2010 survey
Foreign domestic workers (FDW) expressed high levels of satisfaction with working in Singapore, reported the Ministry of Manpower, based on a survey it conducted in 2010. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being 'extremely satisfied', about half of the FDWs indicated that they were "extremely satisfied" with
Fact sheet: Overstaying by more than 90 days can lead to caning
Singapore's Immigration Act specifies that persons overstaying their visas or equivalent permits are liable for judicial caning if they overstay by more than 90 days. There are exceptions pertaining to age. Women are also not caned. Unlawful entry or presence in Singapore 15. — (1) A person shall not remain
Discrimination against women migrant workers and human trafficking in Singapore
The Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) compiled this shadow report on Singapore for presentation to the United Nations committee charged with overseeing the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Download this 2011 report
What’s been said about day off for FDWs
Over the years, TWC2 has collected some figures relating to the issue of a weekly day off for domestic workers. --- Sunday Times, 28/7/2002: 'Most foreign maids happy working here' Dawn Wong and Lee Hui Chieh "More than half Filipinas interviewed had every Sunday off, and a handful, public holidays