What is illegal deployment?
Employers of migrant domestic workers (‘MDW’) must make sure that they follow the conditions of an MDW’s Work Permit (also known as visa). In Singapore, a Work Permit is given to MDWs and it puts limits on what work the MDW can and cannot do, such as:
- An MDW is only allowed to work at her employer’s residential address
- An MDW can only do domestic work
- An MDW cannot work for other employers
If an employer or an employment agency break these rules (for example, by forcing an MDW to work in the employer’s mother’s home), the employer or agency might be banned from hiring MDWs in the future.
What action can I take if my employer has illegally deployed me?
If your employer or your agency has illegally deployed you, you may consider taking action against your employer or agency in two ways:
- Contractual claim: this is when your employer has not paid your salary during your period of illegal deployment.
- For example, if your employer asked you to go work in their mother’s house, but did not pay you money for this work. Although this work is illegal, you are allowed to ask your employer to pay for this work.
- Unjust enrichment claim: this is a similar claim to the one above. Unjust enrichment means a situation where the employer ‘benefits’ from the illegal work of an MDW. It is advised that you get legal advice before starting an unjust enrichment claim.
Is it possible for an employer to have their MDW work in multiple houses?
Yes, it is possible for an employer to apply to the Ministry of Manpower (‘MoM’) to ask for permission for an MDW to work in the households of other family members.
To obtain this permission, the MDW must agree and consent to this arrangement and MoM must also see confirmation that the MDW has agreed to it. However, in reality, these permissions are rare.
Even if permission is given, the employer is still responsible for the welfare of the MDW, including acceptable accommodation, food and medical treatment at the family member’s home.
Helpful Tips
- Call the police (999) if you are in danger.
- Document or keep proof of any illegal deployment – this could include pictures, videos, or voice recordings that show your employer or agency trying to illegally deploy you.
- Report the illegal deployment to the MoM using the MDW helpline. You can contact 1800-339-5505 or the MOM website.
- Consider submitting a civil case in court against your employer or agency. If you wish to do this, it is advised that you seek advice from a legal advisor or NGO first.
- Do not feel pressured or forced to work in someone else’s home without permission from the MoM. If an MDW is found to have broken her Work Permit conditions, the Singaporean authorities may investigate and charge your for illegal deployment.
