Yet Another Underaged Maid

My latest maid, Foni Faroka, arrived Singapore on Friday, 12 November 2010.  Upon her arrival in Singapore, she was met by the agent's representative.  There were 2 others Indonesian maids who arrived together with her and all 3 were escorted to someone's home.  I knew this would be the case although some of the agents will usually say that the maids are housed in a dormitory and not in theirs or their bosses' private accommodation.

As she arrived Singapore late on Friday, she went for her medical test and safety course the following morning.  Since MOM closes at around noon, she was unable to take her English entry test till Monday.  According to Foni, there were 40 multiple choice questions.  At the session which she took, there were 2 who failed their tests.  Those who failed were allowed to re-sit their tests 2 more times.  One of the 2 failed again and would need to re-sit and pass the 3rd and final attempt.  Otherwise, she would be sent home.

She came to my home on Monday evening, escorted by her agent, Claire.  When I saw her, I knew that she is definitely below the required age of 23.  I am sure she is probably around 16 years old.   Really pissed off and I told the agent but they said there is nothing they can do as the maid's passport indicated her age as 23!

This is not the first case anyway.  And the recent case of the maid who threw a special needs child showed, the maid was only 18.  These maids will deny they are under 23 years old until they are in trouble with the law, which she did .

Anyway, I had a phone interview with her while she was in the training centre and the agent also spoke with her to explain her duties.  A week after she started working, she said there are a lot of work to do and she asked to be returned home!  Her duties then was sweep the floor, mop floor, machine wash clothes plus ironing!  She was supposed to cook as well but so far I have bought packed meals for herself as well.