There are currently around 220,000 Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) in Singapore ¹. Workers arriving into Singapore from overseas would typically shoulder loans worth 7 months of their salary ². This loan amount is initially paid by the employer to the maid agency, and deducted from the worker’s salary on a monthly basis until fully paid off. Workers already in Singapore and transferring to another employer can be charged between 1-2 months ³ of their salary on maid agencies fees.

Most of us employed in mainstream jobs do not incur such hefty fees. Economic hardship at home is what drives most FDWs to pursue work overseas. Incurring significant debt as part of securing a job, coupled with the pressures of being away from home and oftentimes their young children, compounds the psychological stress on these women. A worker in this situation is not only an unhappy one, but can be unproductive or taken to the extreme, could become a threat to the employer and her family.

References
1. Source: MOM website
2. Source: Anisya survey of FDW salary deductions (ongoing)
3. MOM allows employment agencies to charge fees worth 1 month salary for each year of employment