Are S’poreans Bad Employers? Domestic Helper Says She Was Made To Wait Outside While Ex-Employers Ate In Restaurant

A Filipino domestic helper recounted a negative experience she had with a former employer in Singapore.

In a street interview with Asian Boss Media on Instagram, the woman said that whenever her previous employers went out to eat, she would have to go along but was made to stand outside or sit in a corner to wait for them while they dined in.

“They only give you water,” she said, adding that she had to wait up to three hours sometimes.

She also recounted an incident when a waiter asked why she wasn’t eating, and she told them that her employers had already asked her to eat before this. 

“They really looked down on [us],” she explained to the interviewer.

We are glad that she has left that mean family.

The comments section blew up with many netizens siding with the domestic helper and telling Singapore employers to treat their domestic helpers better.

Among those who weighed in was local chef Willin Low, who sadly confirmed how prevalent this demeaning culture is in Singapore, as he has seen it happen before in his restaurants. 

“Once at my restaurant, I sent a pasta on the house to the helper who was seated with the family, but she was only given water whilst the rest of them were eating,” wrote Willin.

“My manager said to the guest as he handed the pasta to the helper, 'Chef couldn’t bear having anyone go hungry at his restaurant'."

Aww, that's nice.... right? Wrong. 

“The guest thanked us, took the pasta, and divided it amongst themselves leaving nothing for the helper,” he added.

Willin owns pasta bar, Pastaro at Chancery Court, and Relish by Wild Rocket at Cluny Court.

This problem is not new, and stories like these have often surfaced for decades now.

Back in January, CNA Today reported on a viral social media post by Instagram account @f***yeahnoms exposing screenshots from a private Facebook group called FDW Employers@Singapore, which show the unbridled attitudes of some Singaporeans towards their helpers.

One such post had an employer asking: “Anyone('s) maid is a big eater?”. Others complained that their helpers used their condiments and seasonings to cook their own food.

The Facebook group has since been hidden or deleted.

Surely, we can do better, Singaporeans. 

Photos: asianbossmedia/IG