Plight of abused foreign domestic workers who seek justice and shelter in Singapore

Her ordeal coincided with the tumultuous phase of the married couple’s relationship, as the Singaporeans struggled to look after a toddler and a two-month-old infant.Frustrated with her husband, Hartatik’s female employer took it out on her by attacking her limbs, sometimes with a pan, or stomping on her.

For the next three months, Hartatik endured daily torture before her female employer kicked her out of the house for an innocuous error. In recent months, several cases of abused FDWs were in the media spotlight, including one described by the prosecution as “arguably one of the worst of its kind” in Singapore.

Crucially, the High Court outlined a new sentencing framework for such cases, factoring in the emotional trauma that abused FDWs go through. Last year, over 1,170 FDWs were housed in shelters run by non-government organisations Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics and Centre for Domestic Employees . Both also run 24-hour help lines.Cases like hers, where physical abuse occur, averaged about 13 per cent of the over 2,400 cases - including hotline calls - that the CDE handled over the past three years, said executive director Shamsul Kamar.

Every night from 12 to 2am, she was forced to massage her employer’s legs and back before she could go to sleep. Jaya stressed that more domestic workers - often untrained - increasingly undertake caregiving responsibilities for elderly patients, which often translates to “round the clock care”. In a 2017 report on food security, in which about 30 Indonesian domestic workers in Singapore were interviewed, Charlene Mohammed, a researcher at the University of Victoria, found that almost half went hungry regularly.

Charlene said that she had come across cases like Siti’s, where workers were forced to consume food they are not comfortable with for religious reasons. IMH consultant Dr Jared Ng shared that FDWs often come from a background of “adverse socio-economic conditions” without support networks in a foreign country.

The domestic worker from Mizoram, India, had dropped off her employer’s son at his music school. She was supposed to return to fetch him after the classes were over. “All the time, I would apologise and say sorry,” said the mother of a five-year-old boy. “I wish she would talk to me nicely. I am a mother and a human being too.”

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Maltreated lions rescued from Albanian zoo head to Dutch sanctuaryZhaku, Lenci and Bobby, three lions whose miserable plight in a private Albanian zoo stirred uproar and led the Albanian government to order their ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Parliament: Not beneficial to foreign domestic workers to be brought in for short-term helpSINGAPORE — It could be detrimental to a foreign domestic worker (FDW) to be brought into Singapore to provide short-term help, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Low Yen Ling on Tuesday (7 May).
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »

Jail for couple who abused domestic helper by slapping and strangling her, biting her wristSINGAPORE — An unmarried couple abused the Indonesian domestic helper they hired to take care of their newborn child by slapping her multiple times, strangling her, and even biting her wrist.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

$45b to be pumped into GIC from Singapore's foreign reservesA total of $45 billion will be pumped into Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC from the country's official foreign reserves this month to support longer-term investments, as the country has more reserves than it needs for now. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)...
Source: thenewpaper - 🏆 7. / 63 Read more »

Skills training centre planned for Myanmar women who want to work here as domestic helpersSINGAPORE - The Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Fast), a Singapore non-profit organisation, is in talks with the Myanmar government to set up a skills training centre in Myanmar for women who wish to work as domestic workers in Singapore.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Over 300 domestic helpers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka celebrate combined new yearSINGAPORE - Domestic worker Iek Saron last celebrated the Khmer New Year at home two years ago but she and her fellow Cambodians did not let that stop them from enjoying the festivities here on Sunday (May 5).. Read more at straitstimes.com. that was a few weeks ago; old news! “domestic helpers” aus den Billiglohnländern 😏 Happy New Year to all. Please enjoy the day.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

US crafting surrender plan, not peace deal: Palestinian foreign ministerUNITED NATIONS: The United States seems to be crafting a plan for a Palestinian surrender to Israel instead of a peace deal, Palestinian Foreign ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Indonesia sinks 51 foreign boatsIndonesia began sinking dozens of impounded foreign boats on Saturday, reported AFP. Up to 51 foreign boats - including from Vietnam, Malaysia and China - will be scuttled over the next two weeks, officials said. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the action was...
Source: thenewpaper - 🏆 7. / 63 Read more »

Building good relations with foreign partners on different levels: Heng Swee KeatQ How do you see yourself and the fourth-generation team strengthening some of Singapore's partnerships with Asean and internationally, and building on them?. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Can Jewel Changi Airport continue to shine, for both Singaporeans and foreign travellers?For Changi to continue to grow as a hub in competition with other regional airports that may be better placed geographically for connections to Asia, Changi must think of ways to promote and sustain travellers' interest in Jewel in the longer term.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Richard Lugar, US foreign policy luminary, dies at 87WASHINGTON • Former senator Richard Lugar, a leading US voice on foreign policy for decades and a one-time presidential candidate known for his civility and bipartisan ways, has died at a medical centre in Falls Church, Virginia. He was 87.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »