DFA: PHL labor officials probing ‘discount maids’ in Singapore

Philippine officials in Singapore are looking into possible human rights violations committed against Filipino maids following reports that they are being peddled in malls there.

At a press briefing on Monday, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Singapore is looking into the report that household service workers are being “marketed” in Bhukit Tima Plaza.

According to Jose, there is nothing illegal about legitimate agencies “plying their business of supplying services to those in need of household service workers.”

“That in itself is not illegal,” he said. “But we have to look into the manner of which they are promoting their business.”

Last week, a report on television network Al Jazeera's website said domestic workers from the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar are being displayed and marketed on "super promo" rates by some "maid agencies" in malls.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, had called on the Philippine Embassy in Singapore to look into the report.

“I am deeply concerned by these reports. If this is true, then the domestic workers are being subjected to an indignity that should not be allowed and is in fact, a violation of an international convention protecting the rights of migrant workers,” he said Monday.

Jose said according to the POLO, agencies found to be engaging in illegal recruitment practices will be meted the appropriate sanctions. He added Philippine authorities will refer the matter to the Singapore police “if reports of maltreatment and abuse are validated.”

“The Philippine government, in coordination with the Singapore authorities is ready to take all necessary steps to increase the protection of our overseas Filipino workers in Singapore,” Jose said.

There are about 180,000 Filipinos in Singapore and of this figure, 70,000 are domestic workers.

A large number of Filipino maids are hired in Asia, like Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, as well as in the Middle East and some parts of Europe. —KBK, GMA News

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