Domestic helper shares emotional struggle with a disrespectful child and threats of blacklisting from employer.
SINGAPORE: A foreign domestic helper recently turned to social media to share her distress after her employer’s child was repeatedly rude to her. In an anonymous post to a Facebook support group for both employers and helpers, the maid sought advice on how to handle the situation when the child did not listen to her.
The helper explained that when the family went out for meals or walks, the child would consistently ask her to go away and tell her not to join them. The child would also often express dislike for the helper, saying he did not like or love her. “There was one moment when he dared to say it in front of his mother and father, but neither of them responded… it really hurt me so much,” the maid wrote.
She further shared her pain, noting, “I can’t stop thinking of the days when there was no mom and dad. He was always a very obedient child and always said ‘I love you,’ but when his parents were around, he would be very naughty, and his words always hurt.”
The maid also mentioned that when she discussed the possibility of returning to her home country, her employer would threaten to report or blacklist her, preventing her from working in Singapore again. “I can’t stop thinking about what I should do if that happens,” she confided.
In the comments section, netizens advised the maid to have an open conversation with her employers to express the stress caused by the child’s behavior. Others suggested that if the situation did not improve, she should consider seeking a transfer.
Earlier this year, another foreign domestic worker made headlines when she ran away from her employer’s home after taking her salary in advance. She had agreed to stay for another two months until a replacement was found, but failed to honor that agreement. In a post to the Facebook group FDW in Singapore (a working conditions forum), the employer explained that his helper had gone AWOL (absent without leave), despite agreeing to leave in April while waiting for a replacement. The employer asked for advice, as he had a young child and needed help caring for the toddler.
