Job agencies want professional training for domestic workers

SINGAPORE — Employment agencies in Singapore are calling for domestic workers to undergo professional training here so they can become skilled workers, after Indonesian President Joko Widodo said last week the country wants to stop sending its women overseas as maids to preserve the country’s “dignity”.

The Indonesian Embassy has said there are about 125,000 Indonesian domestic workers in Singapore. Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) president K Jayaprema said: “If we were to lose this source, then we will have a very small pool of alternative workers.”

Employment agencies said competing with other countries for a limited pool of workers could spell higher costs and longer processing time for employers. Traditional source countries are also imposing restrictions to protect their workers. For example, the Philippines plans to introduce a quota on domestic workers going to Singapore.

Finding alternative sources will also be a challenge. Best Home Employment Agency owner Tay Khoon Beng noted that the Ministry of Manpower had piloted a two-year project to bring in 600 Cambodian helpers. After 18 months, about 400 Cambodian workers have been brought in and not all have stayed, he said.

Providing training is the new reality even though it will cause employers inconvenience, he added. OLIVIA SIONG