Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore: Social and Historical Perspectives

Abstract

The employment of foreign domestic workers (FDWs or maids) in Singapore is often seen as a black-and-white issue, with first-world employers ruthlessly exploiting third-world workers. While FDWs in Singapore do suffer from a lack of legal protection and practical support, their legal and social status has evolved over time. Equally, local narratives surrounding FDWs as well as other types of immigrants and the topic of migration in general vary across and within the various groups that make up Singaporean society. While successive governments have chosen to focus purely on the economic implications of their foreign labour policies, a lively debate exists within society regarding the rights, wrongs, advantages and disadvantages of the nation’s reliance upon FDWs. This case study looks at the history of domestic labour in Singapore, the applicable local legislation, and the ways in which social forces have shaped and responded to policy on the issue.