At the time of this writing, I had just read a survey in which 46% of Singaporeans are not in favour of giving their maids 1 off day per week. I must admit that this issue had me feeling bemused and not a bit worried. Are my fellow citizens so insensitive towards the plight of their maids?
I must first highlight the fact that I've never had a maid. Not now, not previously and highly unlikely ever in the future. So I'm am left feeling genuinely puzzled by the fact that most employers don't allow their maids to have a weekly rest day. Are your household chores so demanding that your maid must do it immediately? Your own family members pick up some useful housekeeping skills if they wash the dishes once in a while. And more importantly, if you can afford to hire a maid, then chances are you have a reasonably well paying job that allows you to have the weekend off to spend time with your family. Why shouldn't your maid have this luxury as well?
I prowled some local forums and was truly taken aback by some the responses I see. "Because they are maids!" is one of them. So what if they are maids? Does being a maid automatically disqualify the person from a rest day? Are our hearts that hardened that we can ignore the plights of your own maids, who are living under the same roof yet working 24/7 for their employers? Now I have met people who treated their maids well, giving them day offs and even paying their airfares for them to visit their families overseas. But too many, far too many people are ignorant or uncaring of the plight of their domestic help. It is not for me to criticize, but perhaps the relevant authorities can make this part of a labour law to improve the quality of life of our domestic helpers.
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