Term 3 Week 1 (Weekend Assignment)

Veteran labour leader Halimah Yacob recently called for the legislation of weekly days off for maids working in Singapore. This has sparked off an intense debate amongst Singaporeans. In your opinion, should the giving of weekly days off be legislated in Singapore?

Post your 300 word response on your blog.

Maids who come to Singapore is for earning money and although their pay is not very high, their living accommodation and food is being accounted for by their "boss". They are trying to earn money to send back to their homes where it is not that rich and developed. Maids with family who are trying to earn as much money as possible and if they already have the money and resources back in their home town, I believe that they would not want a job as a domestic helper as it is a very tough job and they might get separated from their families. Maids are either paid by days or hours, they are trying to earn as much as possible so as to be able to support their family and when you give days off, you are limiting to the amount of money they can earn. Personally, my maid cooks most of my meals, does the laundry, and cleans the house. Because she has done so much, I think that she deserves the day off. So that's a point for both sides... Hence, this is a very debatable subject. On one side are those maids who earned their day off, and the other side is the maids who do a slipshod job and take the day off. I believe that anyone would agree with me that the maid that had done a bad job should never be given a day off and that he/she should even be fired. Once you get a job, you do it well or you do not do it. I feel that the choice of day-off's should be given according to the "bosses". If their "bosses" think that they deserve a day off, they can give the maid one day off. If the "bosses" are cruel, then it is too bad for the maid or he could even go on to sue her "boss".