Is this really true?

[Logical]

Before I start this post ,let me say that I have no full time maid and do not have any future intention to hire one either.
The below was related to me by many ladies at our pool side gathering where we live.
The conversation reverted to maids as one lady was very stressed out as her young 20 year old maid was as she said 'playing up'!Apparently she was having a friendship or relationship with a guy!( Oh so natural she's young and hormones run in maids too) However what really made me wonder is when they said that if a maid becomes pregnant then the employer loses their $S5000.00 deposit as the onus of total responsibility for the maid in every way is on the employer. This got me thinking!

1. Why do people have a full time live-in maid? Logical answer--
a) the kids are small, b) both husband wife working, c) single parent working, d) someone who can take care of the house, cooking etc. of the house.
Basic reasons right?
Now in the absense of the employers if the maid is having a relationship or whatever -my question-
1) How is the employer to know what goes on when they are out of the house for a period of 5/6 hours?

2) Is the employer responsible for the maids actions? Why- is the maid not an adult-? A major? Is she not responsible for her actions?
How is an employer to keep an 'eye ' on the maid? Keep her locked up the whole day really? under lock & key?
How does this work?
Can someone please give me facts? I am really curious to know the truth.

After all it is because the employers are not around that people have full time maids.
Why are employers held responsible?
Where is the logic in this?

[Buffy]

Hi

Yes as ridiculous as it first sounds...the Employer is responsible for the repatriation of pregnant maids.

Why?

Because the maid is not a Singaporean citizen and has no right to be in the country other than on the terms the government allows. This should sound familiar as it is the same for all visa/wp/EP holders.

(It is easy to forget your status as a guest). Different types of guests potentially cause different types of problems. Unwed mothers seems to be a domestic worker problem.Can you imagine the scenario if Singapore allowed pregnant maids to stay and wed the fathers?

it does seem reasonable to say that a 20 year old filippino is an adult who should not require supervision...but think back..did you make adult (ie the right decisions) when you were 20? I'll admit I didn't.

BTW having lived in Thailand I would like to see the Thai government place similar restrictions on the male retirees that they allow into the country...Thailand certainly needs their foreign currency but doesn't need their gene pool.But who would be responsible for all the ugly old blokes? They don't have employers...maybe their banks...yep that should get their attention.

As for how/what can an employer do? well for one she should have a frank discussion with her maid and ensure she knows about and has birth (disease) control.... or hire an "old maid" with no libido? .

I had a live in full time maid for one year...there are lots of benefits in this arrangement but the responsibilities and risks of being an employer are often overlooked.

[This message has been edited by Buffy (edited 23-02-2002).]