Involvement of Employment Agency in Migrant Domestic Workers’ Financial Affairs​

Involvement in financial affairs: what does that mean?

Some migrant domestic workers (‘MDW’) have reported that their employment agency might ask them to pay recruitment fees or to arrange a loan. It is illegal for the employment agency to do this. An employment agency is not allowed to:

1. arrange any loans for MDWs; and
2. collect money from MDWs regarding the loan.

Some agencies may ask an MDW to pay money as a ‘recruitment’ or ‘processing’ or ‘training’ fee. Sometimes, agencies ask the MDW to take out a loan to pay the fee. It is illegal for agencies to force an MDW to take out a loan.

^{Photo by William Warby on Unsplash}

Helpful Tips

• Consider submitting a criminal complaint to the police for harassment (if the agency is harassing you).
• Consider making a complaint at the Employment Agency Administration.
• Get help and support from the resources below if you need it.
• Stay safe.
• Never agree to anything if you do not 100% understand what it means. Get help from an NGO or legal advisor if you don’t understand what the agency is asking from you.
• Do not pay anyone money if you have suspicions or think something is not right.