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To raise the quality of foreign
domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore, MOM will raise the minimum age for FDWs
and introduce minimum education requirements for new FDWs.
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With effect from 1 Jan 2005, the
minimum age requirement for new FDWs will be raised by 5 years, from 18 to 23
years old.
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Older FDWs are generally more
mature and better equipped to provide full-time domestic care for young
children and elderly parents.
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They are also more likely to be
able to take care of themselves, shoulder responsibility and pose fewer
management problems for employers. This will benefit both employers and FDWs,
and help reduce the likelihood of unnecessary friction in the employment
relationship.
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MOM will also introduce minimum
education requirements for new FDWs in 2005. From 1 Jan 2005, all new
FDWs (ie, those who have not worked in Singapore before) will be required to
show documentary proof that they have had 8 years of formal education before
they are allowed to work in Singapore.
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Entry tests will be administered
to verify that new FDWS can understand basic safety instructions and have some
numeracy and literacy skills to perform household tasks.
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The measures are being phased in
over the next few months to provide time for the Employment Agencies (EAs) to
make the necessary adjustments. There is ample supply of FDWs who can
meet the new criteria from the various source countries. MOM will work with
the EAs to raise the quality of FDWs brought into Singapore over time.
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MOM will also introduce new
requirements for employers who change their FDWs frequently. Frequent changes
of FDWs are often a reflection of difficulty in managing FDWs on the part of
the employers.
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Hence, MOM will require all
employers who change their FDWs 5 or more times within a one-year period, to
attend the FDW Employers’ Orientation Programme.
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They may also be required to
attend an interview with a Ministry Official from MOM to better understand the
circumstances behind the frequent change in FDW. Employers who persist to
change FDWs frequently thereafter without satisfactory reasons, may have their
applications for FDWs rejected in future.
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Public Enquiries
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Members of the public with
enquiries may call MOM’s One-Call Centre at Tel: 6438 5122 for more
information.
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Source: Ministry
of Manpower Press Release 2 Sep 2004
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Minimum age for maids to go up to 23 in 2005
