uyen

WHEN maids get abused, they can call various hotlines, go to their embassies for help, or make a police report.


But what if the maid hits her employer or her employer's family members?

Who can the employer turn to?

The obvious choice is the police, if abuse is suspected to have taken place.

But are there other avenues where employers can get help?

Primary school teacher Michael Au found himself in such a situation recently and was frustrated at the lack of recourse for employers like him.

He claimed his Indonesian maid slapped his 4-year-old son, Benjamin, on 14 Aug, leaving a 7cm-long mark on his face.

The incident happened less than three months after the maid was hired.

Mr Au, 37, told The New Paper: 'She said Benjamin hurt himself while they were playing. But when I asked him, he said the maid hit him with the TV remote control and slapped him because he didn't do his homework.'

POLICE REPORT

Benjamin goes to a pre-school.

But Mr Au claimed a doctor, who treated his son that night, confirmed that the injuries were inflicted by a third party.

Mr Au was not sure what to do with the maid. He tried in vain to call all three branches of the maid agency.

On the doctor's advice, he then made a police report. Worried for his family's safety, he said he had asked the police to detain the maid, but they said they could not.

The next day, Mr Au took her to the police station, where she gave her statement.

He then called the maid's agent, who came down to the police station. The agent agreed to take her back.

Mr Au also asked for a written reassurance from the agent that he would no longer be responsible for the maid's safety while she was in their care. But the agent refused.

The maid agency's director, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, said: 'These are conditions set by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

RESPONSIBLE

'The maid is still hired under the employer's name, so he's responsible for her safety.'

Mr Abdul Jalil Aliyar Razzy, president of the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore), agreed.

'The agency's role is to facilitate recruitment. They cannot be taking on the responsibility for the worker.'

Mr Au then lodged a complaint with MOM, but the Ministry did not intervene as it was a police case.

A spokesman said: 'Employers should report to the police should their maids physically abuse members of their family or are suspected of committing a criminal offence, such as theft.

'The maids involved will be dealt with in accordance to our laws.'

Five days after the incident, Mr Au terminated the maid's work permit. The maid agency also refunded him about $2,000 in fees.

The maid is now at the Indonesian embassy. The police are still investigating.

The MOM spokesman said: 'In this case, the work permit has been cancelled, the maid is at the embassy and no longer with the employer, so he's unlikely to be liable.'

But once the case is closed, the spokesman added, Mr Au will have to pay for the maid's fare home since he cancelled her permit.

LACK OF SUPPORT

The Au family is upset about what they perceive as a lack of support for employers when maids are suspected of abusing their family members.

Mr Au was frustrated that on the day of the incident, he had no one to turn to before he went to the police.

'I'd like to have someone who can tell us if I should keep her in the house or not,' he said.

Consumers Association of Singapore director Seah Seng Choon said that while a hotline for employers would be helpful, he is not sure who can offer this service.

He said: 'Resources will have to be expended to man the hotline. And they not only must have the ability to counsel employers, they should also be able to take action.'

Mr Jalil feels handling employers' complaints through a hotline may be unproductive and ineffective.

He said: 'Callers may just want to pour out their frustrations, and in the end, we don't know what's factual and what's emotional. The person giving the advice must also be fair, knowledgeable and must not make a wrong decision or give wrong advice.'

But Mr Lim said he is open to operating such a hotline in future.

'For now, if there are any life-threatening situations, employers can call 999.'

source: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...45603,00.html?

人情味不是偏私而是博爱，

不是施舍而是关怀。

不是表面的礼貌，

而是内心的尊重。

Friends will bail you out of jail.but Best Friends will be sitting by you saying,
" that was awesome !"

KongMing

Try the MP. He may help.

Those who are skilled in combat do not become angered, those who are skilled at winning do not become afraid.
Thus the wise win before the fight, while the ignorant fight to win ~~~ Zhuge Liang

urawks

duh..of course is the police..MP oso dun do anything der..they busy ma.

add me on msn n friendster;
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fuyumi

Since the maid show signs of violence, it's the safety of the employer at stake. I think the agent should be responsible there after. Often there are loopholes in a contract as well.

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Low KP

Why trust the care of the children to the maids?

The mother should take care.

Milk_Mynk

Because in Singapore, it is often necessary for BOTH parents to work, to be able to live a comfortable and fairly well-off life.

Low KP

Then should ask relatives or grandparents to look after the children.

violette

Instead of leaving the children to the maid, parents should turn to their immediate family for assistance first.

We never know what will happen when the maid is with our own child..

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Milk_Mynk

What if said relatives need to work, as well?

My grandma took care of us when we were kids, but that doesn't mean that every grandma/granddad has the ability to take care of kids. =( My boyfriend grew up with his parents working, and his sister busy with school; he cooked for himself in primary school.

I think, practically, unless you happen to be lucky enough to have parents who are physically and mentally able to take care of your children, and they're willing to do so, it's very hard to do anything else but to entrust them to a daycare center or a maid.

Unless your husband earns enough for the both of you, of course.

genzo2106

indeed..There shld be more avenues for the families to turn to if the evidence is deemed nt strong enuff

Life is full of ups and downs. But one has to learn how to stand up on his own and continue his path to attaining enlightment...:mellow3: :mellow3:

My articles at HELIUM:mellow3:

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