http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4502046.stm

Summary:
1)Report states that maids in Singapore are overworked as well as being denied thier basic human rights (Food, pay, social contact ) and are also subjected to physical abuse
2) Singapore's goverment denies the claims made by HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
3)About 150 000 women work as maids in Singapore
4) Authors of this report believes that abuse such as rape, beatings and even killings are widespread in Singapore
5) In the past 6 years, 147 domestic workers have died in Singapore
6)Maids are not protected by the Employment Act in Singapore
7) However, Singapore's Goverment denies exploiting this class of workers and states that they choose to work in Singapore because of better conditions here compared to their home and other countries
8)The authors say Singapore is by no means the worst offender in the region, but they argue that this tightly controlled city state could improve conditions very easily, giving many thousands of vulnerable women greater control over their lives.

Response:

The issue of how singaporeans treat their domestic help have come under scrutiny by human rights organisations. The exculsion of Maids from the Employment Act has brought about much critisism from opposing political parties and Human rights groups in Singapore. As the saying goes, " A person's character can be seen through the way one treats his subordinates" Many issues of maid abuse in Singapore involves employers hu are university graduates and even people with highly sucessful careers. This brings a big question mark over Singaporeans' moral values. Have our education system failed to incalcate proper values in our students? Is the system too focused on results that basic moral values are not taught.
It is important that we review our education system and make sure that our students are not only academically able but with a high moral character.
Also, external reports as such should be taken seriously as it helps us to review and improve on our policies that are currently in place so as to take Singapore up another notch.

tre arty ; 11:33:00 PM