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I am a Practitioner of 'The 7e Way of Leaders' where a Leader will Envision, Enable (ASK for TOP D), Empower, Execute, Energize, and Evolve grounded on ETHICS!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Daily Lessons from Life 13 September 2014 - Myanmar suspends work permits for maids heading to Singapore

"Myanmar suspends work permits for maids heading to Singapore - AFP 13 September 2014

YANGON: Myanmar has temporarily banned its women from working as maids in Singapore due to concerns over abuse and exploitation, an employment body in Yangon said on Saturday (Sep 13).

The suspension comes amid a global spotlight on the working conditions of migrant domestic helpers in Asia after reports of widespread abuse, including the case of an Indonesian maid who allegedly
endured months of torture by her Hong Kong boss.

Myanmar - which only last year passed a law allowing its nationals to work as domestic helpers overseas - will impose the ban until an agreement is reached with Singapore over issues including worker rights and salary.

"We have been informed of cases of abuse and ill-treatment of Myanmar maids in Singapore... That's why we want proper protection for workers," Soe Myint Aung, a vice-chairman of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, told AFP. "The labour ministry has temporarily suspended permits for women until the federation signs a Memorandum of Understanding with (its counterpart in) Singapore."

He did not specify when the suspension came into place but said discussions for an agreement began around a month ago.

The case of Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih - whose Hong Kong employer now faces charges including grievous bodily harm with intent - triggered international concern about the treatment of domestic helpers.

Migration experts have previously warned about poor working conditions for Myanmar nationals in these roles."

If we adopt a pure capitalistic approach, it is a good deal for the foreign domestic workers (FDWs) since the pay is considered as decent. That is assuming the FDWs have employers who are enlightened and KNOW how to be an employer!

Lessons for me are:

1. it is a fair exchange if both parties get what they want within decency and reason;

2. it become messy when one of the parties does not play to the 'fair and just' rules that hopefully the foreign ministries and the work ministries of both countries had drawn up. When the FDWs are not properly trained and attune to the reasonable expectations of the employers, the employers get upset and feel that they had been taken for a ride. When the employers get too 'strict' and use a 'command and control' approach, the FDWs may not be used to it. The liberals will say that the FDWs' basic human right of living with dignity is violated. So, it must be both parties playing ball. If not, difficult situations will develop;

3. my stand on FDWs is: when the kids are less than 12 years old, allowed the family to employ one or two FDWs if need be. Potential employers need to go through a 'How to be an employer of a FDW?' program so they KNOW what can and cannot be expected and done to the FDWs. For the FDWs, they should know their rights and what cannot be expected and done to them. With the employers behaving well, it is easier to get the FDWs to work well as there is really no reason NOT too when your employers are behaving properly. The FDWs will respect themselves and do their parts.

A bit sad that the reputation of Singaporeans as employer of FDWs is less than stellar and real enough for the Myanmar authority to suspend allowing their people to come and work here. May be we DO have ill-adjusted people who became monsters when they thought they 'had' another human being under their 'charge'!

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