More maids, fewer falls

Three years ago, there was a spate of reports about maids falling to their deaths while cleaning windows in high-rise flats. Since then, the number of such incidents has fallen significantly.

The improvement has come even as more maids are working here.  

A new law implemented by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in 2012 ensures that employers and maid agencies do their part in keeping maids safe when cleaning windows.

That year, 10 maids fell to their deaths while cleaning windows.

The stricter rules imposed by MOM prevent employers from allowing their maids to clean windows unless two conditions are met.

First, the employer or an adult representative of the employer must be present to supervise the maid.

And window grilles have to be installed and locked while the windows are being cleaned.

These rules apply to all homes, except for windows on the ground floor or along common corridors.

Failure to comply constitutes a breach of the Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations.

Employers who fail to comply may be prosecuted and permanently barred from hiring a maid.

Statistics provided by MOM indicate that these measures have worked.

In each of the next two years, one maid fell to her death while cleaning windows.

Mr John Gee, 61, chair of the research sub-committee of Transient Workers Count Too, was glad fewer maids suffered fatal falls.

"A reduction in deaths from falls of this order is very welcome. It shows what can be achieved by sound, well-publicised measures," he said.

"The rules were seen as fully justified by most Singaporeans, which aided their implementation."

Mr Jolovan Wham, 35, executive director for the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home) said: "Yes, it can be attributed to (the stricter regulations)." He said Home had played a role in lobbying the government to implement stricter rules.

TNP spoke to four local maid agencies, all of which are responding positively to the stricter regulations.

Mr Gabriel Ee, 29, director of Island Maids, which has branches in Ang Mo Kio and Bedok, said: "This is a good move that reiterates the dangers present to employers of FDWs (foreign domestic workers).

INCREASE AWARENESS

"Sometimes things happen beyond our control but if we educate them and increase awareness, it will reduce the risk of such things happening."

He added: "Many of them come from homes that are not high-rise so when they come here they are not aware of the dangers and they need to adapt."

Ms Anik Binti Sukigo Parto, 27, a maid from Indonesia, welcomed the additional safety enforcements.

She said: "I feel safer because cleaning windows can be quite dangerous, especially if it's quite high."

Ms Parto, who had worked as a maid in Saudi Arabia for four years before coming to Singapore about a year ago, was waiting to start a new employment contract.

Some employers, however, prefer not to let their maids clean their windows.

Ms Nant Aye Aye Myint, 31, a maid from Myanmmar, said: "I used to work in a ninth-storey flat in Ang Mo Kio. But I didn't clean the windows because my employers were afraid I (might) fall."

First-time maids in Singapore have to go through a mandatory one-day Settling-In Programme before they begin work.

Some maid agencies go beyond that and provide additional training programmes for their maids.

Nation Employment, which has branches in Woodlands, Jurong, Hougang, Toa Payoh, Yishun and Tampines, provides additional training in domestic skills such as cooking or window cleaning.

Its training manager, Mr Ng Di Hui, 28, said: "A lot of these FDWs don't pay attention to their safety because they're new to the environment here and they're not aware of the dangers.

"So we emphasise a lot on safety when we train them. Every skill, every job, the first thing we teach is safety."

The agency's managing director, Mr Gary Chin, 45, said: "Many agencies are doing their part and the stricter regulations, of course have helped, especially in raising awareness so all these factors play a role in reducing the number of such incidents."

FALLING ACCIDENTS

The Work Permit conditions were amended in June 2012 to enhance the safety of maids when cleaning the exterior of windows.

This has led to a reduction in the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

2014

No. of fatal falls: 1

No. of non-fatal falls: 6

Total: 7

2013

No. of fatal falls: 1

No. of non-fatal falls: 5

Total: 6

2012

No. of fatal falls: 10

No. of non-fatal falls: 8

Total: 18

The improvements came about even though more maids are working here, according to MOM figures:

2014:

Work Permit (Foreign Domestic Worker): 222,500

2013:

Work Permit (Foreign Domestic Worker): 214,500

2012:

Work Permit (Foreign Domestic Worker): 209,600

PREVIOUS CASES

2012

- A 25-year-old Indonesian maid fell to her death from the ninth storey of a Woodlands flat, apparently while cleaning windows.

- A 34-year-old Indonesian maid fell to her death from the fifth storey of an HDB flat in Punggol, apparently while cleaning the windows.

- A 23-year-old Indonesian maid fell 30 storeys to her death at Telok Blangah Heights. She was cleaning the master bedroom window of the flat when she fell. She had been working for six months before her fall.

- A 26-year-old Indonesian was believed to be cleaning the windows of her employer's home on the eighth storey when she fell to her death. The incident happened at Ivory Heights condominium in Jurong East.

2011

- An Indonesian domestic helper plunged nine storeys from her employer's flat in Jelapang Road, in Bukit Panjang. She had been retrieving clothes from a bamboo pole at a flat. She was badly injured.

- A 25-year-old Indonesian maid died after falling out from a sixth-storey window of her employers' flat in Toh Guan Road.She is believed to have been standing on a stool while cleaning the window in one of the bedrooms

MOM: ALL MAID FALLING CASES INVESTIGATED

Every case of a foreign domestic worker (FDW) falling from height is investigated, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

In an e-mail reply to The New Paper, it said it requires employers to ensure the work safety of FDWs. An MOM spokesman said all employment agencies must explain MOM's safety requirements and must ensure a safety agreement is signed between maids and their employers before the maid is sent to their home.

Said the spokesman: "This is to ensure a clearer understanding between the employer and FDW on the cleaning of window exteriors, in accordance with MOM's requirements."

Employers who fail to do so may be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed up to 12 months, and even permanently barred from hiring maids in future

andreas@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Apr 13, 2015.
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