3 ex—maids fined for "moonlighting"

SINGAPORE: Three Filipino former foreign domestic workers (FDWs) have been fined between S$3,000 and S$5,500 for "moonlighting" by working in other households.

They were charged on Tuesday by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

MOM said on Wednesday the three held work permits as FDWs. However, instead of working only for their official employers, they performed household chores for other employers.

All three pleaded guilty.

Celestina Samam Castro, 55, was fined S$5,500.

She had a permit to work for Tan Tok Jin at Cambridge Road. But she also worked illegally for Husainee s/o Saifuddin between December 2009 and 30 November 2011.

She performed chores such as ironing and cleaning every Wednesday from 8am to 12pm and was paid S$10 per hour.

Ester Grospe Mathilde, 50, was fined S$5,500 for committing the offences between July 2007 and December 2011.

She was issued a work permit to work for Ho Soo Ghim Grace in Hougang. But she also worked for Daniel Foord Thompson and at the residence of someone named Daniel, for four to five hours every Friday. She was paid S$10 per hour and another S$10 for transport.

Mary Grace Sobrejuanite Daclangin, 38, was fined S$3,000 for the offences committed between November 2009 and April 2012.

She worked part—time for Zhang Liuhang. She was given a day off every Sunday by her official employer, Linda Cheng Mei Lin. But she cleaned the flat of Zhang on Sundays for three hours at S$10 per hour.

Celestina and Ester were also charged with failing to stay in the residential addresses of their employers.

MOM also added a fifth charge to Celestina for conspiring with Ester to work as an illegal part—time domestic worker.

The ministry said from 2009 to 2011 eight FDWs have been convicted. Seven of them were fined between S$2,000 and S$13,000, while one was jailed for two months.

In the first half of 2012, three FDWs were convicted and fined between $1,000 and $5,000.

MOM has investigated both the official and "illegal" employers and will take action against them.

The ministry has reminded all FDWs that they should only work for the employers specified in their work permits. They should not be self—employed or be "moonlighting".

MOM has also warned the public not to engage the services of FDWs who are "moonlighting".

Anyone with information on such practices should call 6438 5122 or e—mail mom_fmmd_cr@mom.gov.sg.

— CNA/ck