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SINGAPORE – Human Resources Minister Josephine Teo said on Wednesday (February 24) that there is no room for abuse of foreign domestic workers (FDW) in Singapore and called for an end.
Singapore has to “do better” to provide community support for foreign domestic workers, Teo added in a post on his Facebook page.
Teo was reacting to the horrific abuse case involving Piang Ngaih Don, a 24-year-old maid from Myanmar, who died after her employer Gaiyathiri Murugayan killed her due to repeated suffocation.
“The Government is serious about protecting foreign domestic workers and will let the law take its course. Ms. Piang’s suffering and death should never have happened. The abuse is abhorrent, whoever the victims are. When it is about foreign domestic workers, all the more to act, “said Teo.
Gaiyathiri pleaded guilty Tuesday to 28 counts of wrongful death, serious injury, injury, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation. The prosecution is pressing for a life sentence.
Piang had 47 external injuries and 31 recent scars all over her body from repeated abuse. He weighed only 24 kg and had lost 38% of his starting weight of 39 kg at the time of his death.
Gaiyathiri’s police officer and husband, Kevin Chelvam, and his mother, Prema S Naraynasamy, face multiple charges of abuse and others.
Over the years, authorities have put safeguards in place, such as a setup program for first-time foreign domestic workers, so they know who they can turn to for help, Teo said. These include the MOM or NGO hotline such as the Center for Domestic Employees – CDE or. Employers are also required to attend an orientation program on their roles and responsibilities, while authorities also work with NGOs that engage and care for workers.
Piang worked in Singapore for less than a year and had attended the setup program, according to Teo. She was subsequently examined by doctors on at least two occasions, between six and ten months after her employment. Her employment agency also spoke to her on two separate occasions.
“Unfortunately, on none of these occasions were signs of her distress detected,” Teo said.
Even while the case is tried in court, the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) review to protect foreign domestic workers will continue, Teo said. These would include the threshold for blacklisting errant employers, as well as improving measures to detect abuse.
“We cannot do it alone. We also ask for your help. If you are aware of any mistreatment of foreign domestic workers or foreign domestic workers facing employment problems or other problems, please contact the Center for Domestic Employees or FAST for assistance. Foreign domestic workers can also call the MOM helpline at 1800 339 5505 to speak with a MOM officer. “
Mom’s statement
In a separate statement on Wednesday, MOM said it expressed its deepest condolences to Piang’s closest family members. At the time of his death, MOM ensured that a full insurance payment was made to the closest family members, consisting of the full death benefit, the cost of repatriation, and a special bonus payment. The CDE also made a donation to Piang’s family and facilitated his brother’s visit to Singapore, MOM added.
In the first six months of Piang’s employment, Chelvam had provided feedback to the employment agent (EA) on communication and job performance issues, MOM said. The EA had offered to replace Piang several times, but Chelvam did not accept the offers, according to MOM. During this period, the EA had spoken to Piang on two different occasions, but did not respond to any issues.
Chelvam and her family members had previously employed four other foreign domestic workers and MOM said it had not received any complaints or adverse comments from them.
“MOM will intensify our efforts to reach out and interview all new foreign domestic employees about their well-being, and will also collaborate with healthcare providers to see how we can help them identify cases of possible abuse,” the ministry said.
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