The Online Citizen A Community of Singaporeans
SRC Recruitment LLP (SRC) and one of its Employment Agency (EA) personnel, 41-year-old Mdm Erleena Binte Mohd Ali were prosecuted on Thursday (4 October) for insensitive advertising of foreign domestic workers (FDWs).
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in a statement on Thursday, stated that the advertisements were placed between 1 September 2018 and 17 September 2018, on online marketplace, Carousell, casting the FDWs in an undignified light.
MOM was first alerted to the postings on Carousell on 14 September 2018. A Facebook post was put out immediately to warn EAs against such practices. MOM also told Carousell to take down the offending posts.
According to the authority, each faces 49 counts of advertising FDWs in a manner akin to a commodity. They each face another 50 counts of failing to ensure that SRC’s name and licence number are reflected in the advertisements, which are offences under the Employment Agencies Act (EAA).
If convicted, they may be fined up to $5,000, or jailed up to six months or both.
SRC’s licence has been suspended, while Mdm Erleena has been de-registered as an EA personnel.
MOM stressed that it expects all EAs to exercise sensitivity when marketing their services, and exercising their duty of care towards their clients, including FDWs. There are established guidelines on responsible advertising which are well publicised, including on the MOM website, and which EAs are expected to adhere to.
Members of the public who have any information on EAA infringements should report the matter to MOM via the MOM website under “Contact us” or call 6438 5122. All information will be kept strictly confidential.