Proposals to establish dormitories for foreign labourers in the midst of local residential areas have met with strong reactions from the residents. Most concerns were about safety, cleanliness and hygiene issues.
Yes, it does not help that some foreign labourers were responsible for some violent crimes, including those against the females. And some of them sought girlfriends among the foreign domestic maids working and living in the residences of the locals.
Yet as human beings, foreign labourers deserve humane treatment too. And they have normal needs as human beings.
Some Singaporeans accused employers of bringing the foreigners in to cut costs. Truth though is I don't think any of them would be happy to pay more for a 100% Singaporean made housing. Is it really a matter of cost-management to house them in unused buildings in the midst of existing residential enclaves, i.e., save the employers a few bucks who would not necessarily pass on the cost savings to the customers (esp. in view of rising costs of other factors such as building materials)?
Or is it just a matter of perception?
In all fairness, I would not want to be stained by reputation just because some Singaporean employers abused the foreigner workers and foreign maids.
Hence, I am sure neither would the mostly law abiding foreigners want to be stained by the black sheep among their numbers.
I have a family too, and young children. Previous maids employed by my in-laws had secretly befriended foreign workers as their boyfriends.
These issues, IMO, cannot be resolved by instituting rules or segregations.
The best and most effective approach, first and foremost, Singaporeans must take more responsibility over themselves and their households.
Instead of only worrying about the safety of my children, I believe I have to help them become educated and more aware.
Those with maids in their households too must take responsibility and care - discuss and come to mutual understanding with their maids on certain issues.
Maids are human beings. They are not androids who are there to serve our needs when required, and will keep themselves quietly in the closet out of our way when not required.
Whatever problems Singaporeans have with the presence of foreign workers/maids, they have to appreciate that they too play a role - these foreign workers/maids would not be here unless there was a demand for their labour, a demand that ultimately comes from Singaporeans themselves.
What the heck is wrong with the formating ...
ReplyDeleteCopied and pasted, didja?
ReplyDeleteAs human beings they have needs as well both physical and emotional I see no reason to treat them any differently from other Singaporeans (Unless of course you are used to looking down and passing disparaging remarks on races other than your own in which case please die).
ReplyDeleteDomestic help should be treated as friends at the very least, for the period they are with your family you eat together, play together, watch tv together, sleep together.. how can they be treated otherwise? It would be nice if they can be treated as a member of the family and the children accord them the same respect they would any other adult or elder.
Is it a cut and paste ?
ReplyDeleteI heard the discussion on the radio this morning, residents would naturally shun away from them. Parents are naturally afraid for their children. Due to the different cultural background it's not easy for them to change their behaviour unless they are willing to change.
ReplyDeleteMy former neighbour immediately sack the maid after they found out that she actually bring their boyfriend ( foreign worker ) home and have sex with them in their master bedroom.
Of course, from the perspective of the foreign workers, they will naturally felt that Singaporean look down on them.
I once passed a foreign dorm in all their tops and pants hang out of the windows, it really look very ugly.
I still remember a movie about Tiananmen Incident where the student dorm in Peking University looks no different from the foreign workers dorm.
Nope, I typed it all from scratch at multiply.
ReplyDeleteRe-edit at home. Seems to have been a problem only when I was using the laptop.
ReplyDeleteI heard a similar true account from my colleague too. A lot more from my friends who have live-in maids.
ReplyDeleteI've heard on radio that HK maids live on dorm instead of living within the employee house.
ReplyDeleteha that is a good idea, provided the employer is willing to pay for that extra.. I dont mind actually.
ReplyDelete