How united are the FDW & EMPLOYERS vs AGENTS in lobbying A. AGENTS are UNITED AGENTS have their trade association, they have the lobbying power, they know the MOM rules but they regularly flaunt them (overcharge employers and FDW alike). Some rogue agents UNFAIRLY benefit from both FDW and employers, and industry is RIFE WITH ROGUE SCAMSTER AGENTS. E.g. MOM does not permit more than 2 month deductions, but agents charge more and due to the lack of awareness employers also happily pay and deduct from the FDW. Employers can help FDW to file a complaint to the MOM and recover the illegal deductions from the agent. Due to the lack of awareness, employers are also routinely charged inflated fees by the agents e.g. not providing ITEMIZED receipt with breakdown as required by the MOM (this allows them to inflate as lumpsum the inflated charges with other fees), inflating the fees e.g. to process documents with Philippines embassy agency must buy a PERFORMANCE BOND (costs $77 for 2 years, pay one and use as many times within 2 years). Many agents then charge this money as pass-through fee to all their clients i.e. pay $77 once but charge it to several hundred clients, rorting the clients of an aggregated amount of thousands of $$$. B. EMPLOYERS of FDW do not have a united platform EMPLOYERS of FDW do not have their sperate dedicated association. CASE.Org.sg is a Consumer Association that covers all kinds of consumers and not just employers of FDW. Employers of FDW do not have a dedicated platform for raising the UNITED VOICE for their demands. Govt also milks the employers through FDW LEVY but a little of it is spent on the FDW WELFARE or for the direct welfare of the employers of FDW e.g. it could be used to abolish the bond (this will give lots of freedom to both employers and FDW, employers do not have to control and babysit the heleprs), subsidise the families on the lower income to enable them to hire FDW and get back into work force, offer social events and courses to bring FDW and employer together (social integration), create dedicated places for recreation and learning for the helpers say within NCC (neighborhood community centers, and separate recreational centers for FDWs), etc are just the few examples. C. OPRESSED FDW have the faintest voice FDW do not have trade association, they lack power of money, power of votes, they suffer from the lack fo awareness, bullying, abuse, exploitation, threats and fears of being sent back if they raise their voice, they have weakest lobbying power compared to the employers and agents. Unlike all other professions, FDW are exclued from the protection of the labor law, thus putting them at higher risk of exploitation and abuse. FDW issues are grossly UDNEREPORTED due to the fear, threats, bullies, etc. Enforcement of the inadequate existing law by MOM is reactive and not very proactive, and MOM could to lot better. Even those who (locals, employers, expats, etc) empathise with the FDW cause, they do not want to do so openly because they think it is not a glamorous enough cause and are embarassed to be openly associated because they do not want their clients, colleagues and friends to know. I have heard I empathise with these girls but I advise you to maintain a distance. Compare it with cute puppies & kitties animal rights, kids suffering terminal illeness, breast cancer, etc which does not put them at confrontation with others (angry agents, angry employers, embarassed authorities/govt) and they sound cute, heart-melting and can be flaunted in front of the family and friends. It shows that these people are still confused. They do empathise but they still carry a social attitude that FDW are somehow still a less of human being purely because of their profession. INTROSPECT PLEASE. Among the 3 FDW are most disadvantaged. Your views?
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 12:23:11 +0000
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