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Independent Singapore
3 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Maid says, 'My employer wants me to wake up early and work on time, but she never lets me sleep on time'
And just like that, many other helpers who read her post had an instant case of been-there-done-that. 'They're expecting me to be honest about money, while they don't even want to pay me [the] 15 days home paid holiday (which is S$300 we both agreed to pay in the contract),' the helper continued. 'She only paid me S$100.' It was less of a rant and more of a reflection on the lopsided power dynamics between domestic helpers and their employers — especially when it comes to sleep and salary. 'We helpers come from a very poor family. But here the employers who [are] 10 times richer than us always try to take advantage of it… This ain't fair at all,' she lamented. 'The fact that 8 billion humans in the world, but only a few people show humanity is crazy 😢' And the comments came pouring in like spilled kopi on a Monday morning. One helper echoed, 'True, employers want helpers to work on time, but for us helpers, we wake up early, but our rest time is not on time… They don't care.' Another chimed in: 'Same here.' And their grievances didn't end just there. The number of maids replying 'Same here,' and 'it's true' is rather concerning, as if they were all replying from a collective sleep-deprived consciousness. But perhaps the most eye-opening account came from a helper whose boss ended her contract early — just because her helper declined to renew it. 'When I told Madam I don't want to renew my contract, she said, 'Ok lah, then I end your contract early.' So on July 15, 2025, she ended it — when it was supposed to end on October 31, 2025.' Talk about notice period… wait, what notice period? 'So unfair, but I have no regret also. Even [though] she did it, I'm much thankful coz finally I can leave her, which I wish I had done a long time ago, but I just endured and put up with her bad behavior,' the helper expressed her relief. Some replies, however, were less empathetic and more stoic, bordering on tough love. 'So don't renew your contract and find new employer lah,' one group member offered pragmatically. Another didn't mince words: 'Suck it up. Not happy, just leave and find new employer.' But while some helpers shared horror stories, others dropped comments like golden tickets — stories of employers who actually honoured their helpers' holidays with full salary plus bonus pocket money. 'Me, 2 weeks holiday, my employer [gave] full salary with S$600 pocket money.' Another flexed: 'My employer, even [though] my holiday is 3 weeks, they gave me one month full salary.' Not all employers are villains, it seems — some are the fairy godmothers of the maid world. Meanwhile, one employer who saw the drama in the comments used the opportunity for recruitment. 'I am looking for a transfer helper. Pls pm me if you are available,' she commented — casually turning the post into a job ad. Now that's recruitment efficiency. Humanity starts with bedtime If this Facebook thread proves anything, it's that sleep isn't just a luxury for foreign domestic workers — it's a basic human need. And paying someone less than agreed while expecting robotic punctuality isn't just bad employer behaviour. It's poor leadership, plain and simple. For now, the original poster's reflections continue to ripple across the group, as helpers exchange stories, support, and a healthy mix of reality checks and resilience. One can only hope that humanity — and fair wages — eventually catch up. 'Singapore is known for its world-class standards, but beneath the surface of this clean, modern society lies a silent injustice — the daily mistreatment of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) who leave their families behind, only to be treated without basic dignity,' wrote Eryana Eryan. Her post in the Facebook group Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper recently offered a searing commentary that cracked open this often-muted reality — a post that's now resonating with many who know the system needs fixing. Her voice, equal parts heartfelt and heartbreaking, sheds light on the day-to-day indignities suffered by helpers at the hands of employers who blur the line between firm supervision and outright cruelty. You can read her full post and plight on behalf of all maids in Singapore over here: Domestic helpers in Singapore: We left our own children behind to raise yours, but you treat us like second-class citizens, without even basic dignity
CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
Teacher dies saving students from inferno in Bangladesh jet crash
DHAKA: When a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into her school and erupted in a fireball on Monday (Jul 21), Maherin Chowdhury rushed to save some of the hundreds of students and teachers facing mortal danger, placing their safety before her own. The 46-year-old English teacher went back again and again into a burning classroom to rescue her students, even as her own clothes were engulfed in flames, her brother, Munaf Mojib Chowdhury, told Reuters by telephone. Maherin died on Monday after suffering near-total burns on her body. She is survived by her husband and two teenage sons. "When her husband called her, pleading with her to leave the scene and think of her children, she refused, saying, 'They are also my children, they are burning. How can I leave them?'" Chowdhury said. At least 29 people, most of them children, were killed when the F-7 BGI crashed into the school, trapping them in fire and debris. The military said the aircraft had suffered mechanical failure. "I don't know exactly how many she saved, but it may have been at least 20. She pulled them out with her own hands," he said, adding that he found out about his sister's act of bravery when he visited the hospital and met students she had rescued. The jet had taken off from a nearby air base on a routine training mission, the military said. After experiencing mechanical failure, the pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but it crashed into the campus. The pilot was among those killed. "When the plane crashed and fire broke out, everyone was running to save their lives, she ran to save others," Khadija Akter, the headmistress of the school's primary section, told Reuters on the phone about Maherin. She was buried on Tuesday in her home district of Nilphamari, in northern Bangladesh.
Independent Singapore
4 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
EC centre worker says 'distasteful' comments from 'entitled parents' are taking a toll on their mental health
SINGAPORE: A local Redditor who works in a public early childhood (EC) centre asked for advice on how to not be affected at work. Although they love children, what they find the hardest is being at the receiving end of 'condescending and distasteful remarks' from 'horribly entitled' parents. In a July 22 (Tuesday) post on r/askSingapore, u/ strugglingsince99 wrote, 'the worst comments I heard in my career come from these parents,' and added that the stress from these comments has taken a toll on their mental health and well-being. ' I'm thinking of resigning. I'm burnt out. I have drafted out my resignation email and filled up the form,' they wrote, although they can't resign at the moment for financial reasons. For the sake of their mental health, however, they are tempted to do so in spite of the state of their finances. 'I feel like a loser being so affected by what happened at work,' u/ strugglingsince99 also wrote, adding that their salary isn't very high, and the stress they feel isn't worth putting themselves through. The post author also wrote that they used to go to therapy, but since it costs S$180 per session, they can't afford it. 'Please share how I can care less… I feel miserable and like a joke that I work to pay my therapy fees,' they added. When a commenter suggested that they could try transferring to another public early childhood centre, the post author wrote that there are likely to be unkind parents at whichever centre they transfer to. They are now considering moving to the corporate world and leaving the early childhood sector for good. 'I know in corporate, there may be demanding bosses and challenging clients. But I'm burnt out dealing with these parents for now and an unsupportive management that throws us to deal with all these,' they added. Other commenters then suggested that the post author move to a centre with a more supportive management. Some noted that workers in the post author's sector are indeed paid too little and said that this needs to change. A number of Reddit users praised early childhood sector workers and thanked the post author for the work that they do. 'Thank you for doing the job that you do! I think it's often thankless and involves a lot of sacrifice. There are parents out there who recognise that and appreciate it!' one wrote. 'I send my child to playgroup, so I truly respect the teachers who are taking care of her. I always feel that it takes a village to raise children, so hopefully SG Govt can do more for these early childhood teachers,' another opined. A Reddit user who also had experience in dealing with difficult parents in the sector wrote, 'I'm not saying you should grit it out; in fact, I support you leaving if that is what will help you. Before you quit, try applying for other roles outside of EC to see if you're able to land any interviews. Otherwise, quit, take a short break, and maybe apply for centres that promise a small student:teacher ratio. The pay may be less, but hopefully it'll improve your mental health. 'The centre leader plays a big role as well. I felt very embarrassed to speak to my principal about what I was going through, but she's someone I've worked with for many years, so I did open up to her, and she became more understanding of the decline in my work performance, because she knew it wasn't like me. If your centre leader prioritises parents and always takes their side, I think the decision to leave will be easier.' Another had this advice to give: What you feel is valid and not something to be dismissed Hiring is still robust in the childcare industry. Taking a few months off work to recover is important (hopefully you can afford it); suffering long-term in a traumatic environment is not worth the cost. In the meantime, there are lower-stress non-customer-facing part-time roles you can take if money is tight. I don't think any amount of therapy can cancel out the toxicity you face from awful parents. Alternatively, you have to tune out the negative parents. If you know you're doing the right thing, your Principal should step in and draw the boundaries between you and the Parents. If the Principal is not supportive, better leave. /TISG Read also: Singapore to boost early childhood care with 40,000 new facilities by 2029
