Latest news with #MDW
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Maid asks if she was wrong to request S$10k loan in exchange for renewing contract
SINGAPORE: A domestic helper took to social media to ask if she was wrong for requesting a S$10,000 loan from her employer in exchange for renewing her contract. 'I'm finishing my contract [with] my employer this coming October. My employer asked me if I still want to continue. Then I tried to tell them what I wanted,' she wrote in a post on the MDW in Singapore Facebook group. 'I told them if they can lend me S$10,000, then I can continue to work. I told them that I need to start to build my home in my country, and I need a big amount of money. Just trying lah if they can lend me.' To her surprise, the employer agreed to the loan. However, the helper now says she feels conflicted and guilty, as her previous employers recently returned to Singapore and contacted her as well. 'They are in Singapore already. They relocated to Thailand for four years. They contacted me to ask if I want to work for them again. And I decided to take that opportunity (but haven't voiced it out yet), because with that previous employer, I can borrow money, no matter how many thousands I really need.' 'And now I tried to tell my current employer that if they can lend me 10k SGD, then I will re-contract. And they said okay.' She then asked other members of the group: 'Am I being too harsh or taking advantage of their kindness? I feel that I pity them. But the agreement is done already.' 'She thinks her employer is picking up money from the trees.' In the comments, many netizens criticised the helper's request, saying they would have refused the S$10,000 loan without a second thought. Some added that they wouldn't have renewed her contract either, believing she was trying to take advantage of her employer. 'She thinks her employer is picking up money from the trees. I [would] replace her ASAP,' one comment read. 'Lately, I've heard more and more stories of helpers borrowing money either from employers or even unlicensed moneylenders. It makes me wonder … do we look like banks? Or is the motive for working here, for some, simply to find an easy way to borrow money?' another chimed in. 'Borrowing money from an employer is not wrong, but renewing your contract with this condition sounds absurd,' a third wrote. Still, not everyone saw an issue with the arrangement. Some netizens argued that there was nothing wrong with asking for a loan, as long as the helper intended to repay the full amount. 'If the employer says yes, then why not, as long as you pay it back and work for them diligently,' one said. Another netizen, who said she was also a helper, shared her personal experience: 'My maam, she helped me build my dream house back home. The total amount of money she sent was about S$45k, and every month she deducts like S$200. I've been working with them for 12 years.' In other news, a Singaporean man recently shared his views on why many young job seekers are struggling in today's competitive job market. In his post on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit, he said that a lot of locals nowadays focus too much on developing their hard skills while completely ignoring their soft skills. This, he believes, is costing them valuable professional opportunities. 'If you are currently a developer, for example, being technically skilled and kicking ass at LeetCode is, frankly speaking, going to get you nowhere,' he said. Read more: 'Don't skimp on soft skills': Singaporean highlights key to staying competitive in today's job market
New Paper
10-06-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Measles immunity required for maids in households with young children from Sept 1
From September, employers of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) must ensure that their MDW is immune to measles if there is a child under the age of seven in the household who is not fully vaccinated against the disease. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a release on June 10 that this measure will enhance public health resilience and protect unvaccinated young children who are at higher risk of serious health complications from measles infections. At the point of a work permit issuance for new MDWs or renewals for existing MDWs from Sept 1, employers with children below seven years old in the household will be required to declare if the MDW is already vaccinated or immune to measles. They may also need to declare if the child in the household is fully vaccinated, or if a vaccination appointment has been scheduled for the MDW if she is not yet vaccinated, MOM added. An MDW does not need to be vaccinated if she is already immune to measles, or if all children under seven in the household are fully vaccinated. Measles immunity can be acquired through past infection or vaccination. The employer may provide MOM proof of this, such as a completion of vaccination, serology test result or laboratory confirmation of past infection. To be fully vaccinated, two doses of the measles vaccine, available at GP clinics, are required. The cost of two doses is around $80 to $140. Any costs incurred in meeting the measles immunity requirement are to be borne by the employer, said MOM. It encourages employers with existing MDWs to review their workers' immunity status ahead of work permit renewals. The ministry said it will conduct sample checks and may request documentary proof of the MDW's immunity. Employers with children under seven years old who are found to have MDWs without measles immunity may have their work pass privileges suspended until valid proof of vaccination is provided. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted through the air. Despite high vaccination coverage and population immunity in Singapore, sporadic cases and small clusters of measles are still expected among individuals who are not immune due to the highly transmissible nature of the disease. Given Singapore's position as a major travel hub, the surge in measles cases globally and regionally continues to pose public health risks, particularly for those without immunity, MOM said. The new requirement seeks to minimise the risk of measles transmission to vulnerable children who are not fully protected against the disease. Employers are also strongly encouraged to vaccinate or ascertain immunity of their MDWs if there are household members who have weakened immune systems.
AsiaOne
10-06-2025
- Health
- AsiaOne
Maids working in households with kids must have immunity against measles: MOM, Singapore News
Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) will have to be vaccinated against measles if they are working in households with children under seven. In a statement on Tuesday (June 10), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said that employers of MDWs will be required to declare their MDW's immunity status when applying for work permits starting Sept 1. "The measles immunity requirement for MDWs aims to reduce the risk of transmission to young children who are not fully vaccinated against measles," the ministry said, adding that the new measure will enhance public health resilience and protect youths who are at higher risk of serious health complications. To document immunity, employers with children aged seven and below can declare if their MDW is vaccinated or immune to measles. Documentary proof can be provided in the form of serology test results, laboratory confirmation of past infection and proof of completion of vaccination. Alternatively, employers can declare if all children below seven years old in their household have been fully vaccinated, or if they have scheduled a vaccination appointment for their MDW. Existing MDWs will also be subject to the same requirements when renewing their work permits. "An MDW does not need to be vaccinated if she is immune to measles or all children below seven years old in the household are fully vaccinated against measles," MOM said. To enforce the immunity requirement, the ministry will conduct sample checks and may request for documentary proof of immunity. It may suspend work pass privileges of MDWs if they are found to be working with children below seven years old without vaccination against measles. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease among individuals who are not immune to it. Singapore is also particularly at risk despite high vaccination coverage and population immunity due to its role as a major travel hub. Individuals need two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, with at least four weeks between doses, to be considered fully vaccinated. The MMR vaccine is available at private general practitioner clinics and all costs relating to measles vaccination should be borne by MDW employers, the ministry said. The cost is about $80 to $140. [[nid:716586]]
Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Measles immunity required for migrant domestic workers in households with young children from Sept 1
The surge in measles cases globally and regionally continues to pose public health risks. PHOTO: AFP Measles immunity required for migrant domestic workers in households with young children from Sept 1 SINGAPORE - From September, employers of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) must ensure that their MDW is immune to measles if there is a child under the age of seven in the household who is not fully vaccinated against the disease. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a release on June 10 that this measure will enhance public health resilience and protect unvaccinated young children who are at higher risk of serious health complications from measles infections. At the point of a work permit issuance for new MDWs or renewals for existing MDWs from Sept 1, employers with children below seven years old in the household will be required to declare if the MDW is already vaccinated or immune to measles. They may also need to declare if the child in the household is fully vaccinated, or if a vaccination appointment has been scheduled for the MDW if she is not yet vaccinated, MOM added. An MDW does not need to be vaccinated if she is already immune to measles, or if all children under seven in the household are fully vaccinated. Measles immunity can be acquired through past infection or vaccination. The employer may provide MOM proof of this, such as a completion of vaccination, serology test result or laboratory confirmation of past infection. To be fully vaccinated, two doses of the measles vaccine, available at GP clinics, are required. The cost of two doses is around $80 to $140. Any costs incurred in meeting the measles immunity requirement are to be borne by the employer, said MOM. It encourages employers with existing MDWs to review their workers' immunity status ahead of work permit renewals. The ministry said it will conduct sample checks and may request documentary proof of the MDW's immunity. Employers with children under seven years old who are found to have MDWs without measles immunity may have their work pass privileges suspended until valid proof of vaccination is provided. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted through the air. Despite high vaccination coverage and population immunity in Singapore, sporadic cases and small clusters of measles are still expected among individuals who are not immune due to the highly transmissible nature of the disease. Given Singapore's position as a major travel hub, the surge in measles cases globally and regionally continues to pose public health risks, particularly for those without immunity, MOM said. The new requirement seeks to minimise the risk of measles transmission to vulnerable children who are not fully protected against the disease. Employers are also strongly encouraged to vaccinate or ascertain immunity of their MDWs if there are household members who have weakened immune systems. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Cosmopolitan
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Found Dua Lipa's Exact Poolside Swimsuit and It Comes in So Many Patterns
When Dua Lipa isn't busy touring the world as an international pop star or attending the Met Gala as one-half of the world's hottest couple, she occasionally finds time for "a lil pauseeeee." On Tuesday, the "Houdini" songstress shared a recap of her low-key Memorial Day Weekend on Instagram with a carousel of beachside photos with her fam. And while fans were convinced her all-white Jacquemus gown signaled something more serious (like, ahem, a wedding), I was far too focused on Lipa's With Jéan bikini to even notice. After the brand claimed credit in a sweet comment on social media—"❤️❤️❤️ Cutest girl in the cutest bikini x," they wrote—I ran to the site to find the exact style in question. I scrolled (with bated breath!) entirely convinced Lipa's bikini would already be sold out and wiped from the internet, only to find the exact version available in every single size. It was an MDW miracle! Even better, the entire set is under $150. The brown polka dot Juni Bikini, which Lipa paired with a casual pony and oversized red-framed glasses, has a classic triangle-shaped top and cheeky-cut bottoms with eyelet lace-up detailing that gives the swimwear a bit of edge. The fully-lined top has an adjustable halter neck and removable padding, while the bottoms include tie sides so you can customize the fit perfectly to your frame. The fabric's crafted from a 90% nylon and 10% spandex combo that's lightweight yet durable and has just the right amount of give. It's also not the only pattern avail on With Jéan's site. While the black and white polka dot combo already sold out, shoppers can snag the Juni style in plenty more—red gingham, leopard print, blue and white stripe, and more (the list goes on!) in sizes XXS to XL. Dua is def more than just a fan of the brand's one bikini. The Australian clothing label is a fav of hers. In fact, she was spotted in a With Jéan Gabriella Dress just last week and wore the viral red halter—you know, the one celebs were practically making a personality trait— last summer. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to toss out my entire wardrobe and head straight to With Jéan while channeling "What would Dua wear." Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.
