There was initally much happiness over the deduction of $50/mth for the foreign maid levy.
After many rounds of self-congradulation and highlighting merits of the new budget in our national newspapers , comes this piece of news:
Pay for Indonesian maids up by $50 to entice more to come here
"From January this year, the ministry required that new maids who want to work here must be at least 23 years old and have eight years of formal education.
From April 1, they will also need to pass an entry test.."
Ok,this applies to Indonesian maids only. They do not form the entire maid population.
But wait, in the same article, there is mention that new maids must now have a minimum of 8 years of education, and must pass an entry test.
I am sure in typical Singapore fashion, maid employment agencies will charge more for the maids. Their justification? Employers are getting more "qualified" and educated maids.
It is now not your typcial uneducated maid, it is a *slighty* uneducated maid you are now hiring. Maids are now forced to do "ten year series" of MOM's entry test. So much for being more qualified.
Ms Ivy Lee, managing director of Maid Power, said: 'Already, agents here are faxing over the questions to Indonesia, for agents there to help the girls memorise the answers before coming here. That defeats the purpose.'
Another agent, who declined to be named, said: 'It'll be like doing 10-year series... practise like siao (crazy in Hokkien), until can pass.'
Someone tell me costs will not increase because of such measures. These tests costs MOM manpower and money to administer. Would this costs be passed on to maid employers? Most probably.
And someone told me maid employers actually saved $50/mth.
Somehow, I find this hard to believe.
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