Singapore employers’ attitudes and perceptions towards foreign domestic workers and their employment regulations

This study aims to understand the true nature of employer and domestic worker relationship in Singapore, by examining whether employers’ perceptions and attitudes towards their domestic workers, are reflected in their actual employment practices and their justifications on regulations that they perceive to be essential for the domestic worker’s protection. 20 employers were interviewed to gain more insights on the nature of employer and domestic worker relationship; whether familial ties are appropriately used to protect the domestic worker’s well being or used in an exploitative manner. It is imperative to understand the fundamental underlying issues of employers’ perceptions towards foreign domestic workers, before we can truly address the concerns of abuse and exploitation of foreign domestic workers. The findings of the study show that employers may misuse the idea of family-like status towards their treatment of domestic workers. Signs of subtle exploitations and restrictions were witnessed among relationships where the employer claims to regard the domestic worker as part of the family.Bachelor of Art