Mandatory rest days for migrant domestic workers: Updates from Singapore
— March 6, 2012
Singapore, 05 March 2012: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will require a weekly rest day for migrant domestic workers, while providing employers the flexibility to compensate migrant domestic workers with extra pay if the workers agree to work on their rest day. The new weekly rest day requirement will apply to migrant domestic workers whose work permits are issued or renewed from 1 January 2013.
Migrant rights groups including MFA members in Singapore – Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME), Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers (TFAMW), and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) welcome this announcement by the Ministry of Manpower. There are concerns however on the provision that days off can be surrendered in return for compensation and by mutual consent. This may leave the way open to workers being pressured to give up their days off and employers may abuse this by effectively denying the worker the weekly rest day. Migrant rights group nevertheless noted that Singapore is a step closer towards the full recognition of domestic workers with the same rights as all other workers.
Read the statements from and information shared by MFA members in Singapore:
Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME)
Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers (TFAMW)
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
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