Dear FDW

The Ministry of Manpower used to refer to domestic workers from the neighbouring countries as "foreign domestic servants". Now, at last, they acknowledge the important role played by these foreign women. Now MOM refer to them as "foreign domestic workers" (or FDWs). Employers still refer to them as "maids" but expect from them much more than maids can offer.

For FDWs are really not only maids, but also childminders or nannies, cooks, laundry women, cleaners, caregivers to the elderly, companions, etc. They wear several hats. For example, they typically combine the roles of

a childminder, cook, cleaner and laundry woman
or a caregiver to the elderly, cook, cleaner and laundry woman

Sometimes they go that extra mile - going to the market to shop for groceries, walk the dogs, etc.

However, like all human beings, they sometimes get into difficulties from a variety of causes, e.g.:

failure on their part or on the part of their employer to appreciate the pitfalls in a working relationship between two parties from diverse backgrounds;
differences in expectations on the part of the employer or the employee;
human weakness such as lack of proficiency

The list is not complete. We hope that the other pages in this section will be helpful to the domestic worker (or intending domestic worker who plans to work in Singapore) and make it easier for her to survive in a difficult environment.

If you are an employer of an FDW or plan to employ one, perhaps you will, by reading the related pages, avoid the difficulties some employers have complained of. If you are currently employing one, perhaps you might refer your domestic helper to this section so that her stay with you will be happy and mutually beneficial both to you and to her.