MOM to review 'punishment framework' for employers who deploy maids illegally
A review of penalties for employers who deploy their domestic workers illegally will take place and the punishments are to serve to remind employers that they are held accountable for these workers.
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will review the "punishment framework" for employers who deploy their domestic workers illegally.
Errant employers will be taken to task, regardless of whether they were aware that they had done so illegally.
Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Manpower, said in Parliament on Monday (Oct 5): "This is to remind the employers that they are ultimately accountable for their foreign domestic workers and should take steps to ensure that their household's deployment of the foreign domestic workers does not contravene the law."
Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency, had asked what MOM had done in the case of Indoensian domestci worker Parti Liyani and whether the actions were consistent with similar cases in the past.
Ms Parti used to work for the household of Mr Liew Mun Leong, former chairman of Changi Airport Group. She was illegally deployed to work in the home and office of Mr Liew's son. MOM did not take action against Mr Liew, but issued a caution to Mrs Liew and an advisory notice to their son.
In reply, Ms Gan said: "In determining punitive actions for illegal deployment, MOM’s key considerations are the degree to which the well-being of the foreign domestic worker has been compromised and the extent of the illegal deployment."
Ms Parti’s case was handled by the ministry with these considerations in mind, Ms Gan added. The actions taken against the Liews were also in line with similar cases.
A yearly average of 550 complaints of illegal deployment were made from 2017 to 2019, Ms Gan said. Of these, MOM took action against an average of 155 employers a year.
Ms Parti had been convicted in March last year of stealing S$34,000 worth of items from Mr Liew and his family. A High Court judge overturned the conviction on Sept 4 this year, outlining several issues with the conviction findings and how the case was handled.
On Sept 8, Ms Parti was cleared of her last charge, which accused her of having items that she was suspected to have obtained fraudulently. She was given a discharge amounting to an acquittal of the fifth charge.
Ms Parti then took to court to seek disciplinary proceedings against the prosecutors in her case. If she is successful, proceedings could be initiated to assess if there was any misconduct by the prosecutors.
A ministerial statement is expected to be made during next month's Parliament sitting to address questions raised by MPs on the case. CNA
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