The now-permanent Household Services Scheme (HSS) could help Singapore shift its perspective on how the nation thinks about, organises, and enforces rules around the provision of migrant domestic workers (MDWs), said Assistant Professor Ye Junjia from the School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University.

In a commentary on Channel NewsAsia on Monday (6 September) titled “Can new part-time cleaning services replace Singapore’s need for live-in migrant domestic workers?”, the assistant professor discussed the potential impact the HSS would have on the framework in Singapore.

The HSS is an expansion of a pilot programme launched by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in 2017 as an alternative to full-time live-in MDWs.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting strict border controls have impacted the mobility of labour, something that is felt deeply in Singapore due to the tightening supply of MDWs.

“This shortage should push us to ask how we can balance our labour needs with just and fair treatment of those who fulfil them,” wrote Asst. Prof Ye, adding, “It is an opportunity for greater labour equity for essential work that has long been undervalued.”

Easier for employers

One positive effect of the HSS is the relief it can provide to households that are struggling to bring in new or returning MDWs given the continually changing COVID-19 restrictions.

Not only have employers faced difficulties in securing entry approvals for MDWs from higher-risk countries, but they’ve also had to contend with repeated deferrals of entry dates as well as bearing the cost of isolation, testing, medical insurance and treatment.

In fact, Asst. Prof Ye noted that the cost of hiring an MDW from the Philippines has risen from S$2,400 to S$4,000 since the pandemic began, according to employment agencies.

Beyond that, employers also have to fork out an additional S$1,500 to S$2,00 for additional testing and isolation at the MDW’s home country under the new pilot by the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) to bring in more workers safely.

As for employers seeking to transfer helpers who are already in the country to avoid the cost of hiring from abroad, they are struggling with limited supply and strong demand.

This is where the HSS comes in, with households parcelling out specific ad-hoc services to part-time domestic helpers instead of going through the extensive rigmarole of hiring full-time, live-in help.

“This is also an attractive alternative for those hesitant about the perceived intrusiveness of having a non-family member living under the same roof,” the assistant professor added.

Stronger protection for MDWs

Beyond that, Asst. Prof Ye also noted in the commentary that the HSS model could address MDWs pressing concerns about potential abuse at the hands of employers by separating their work and living spaces.

“Workers live outside the homes of people who need their services, in accommodation provided by their companies,” she explained.

“It takes away the closed home environment where overwork and abuse can be harder to detect, two common grievances reported by the Humanitarian Organisation of Migration Economics (HOME).”

In addition to that, Asst. Prof Ye pointed out that workers under HSS companies are protected under the Employment Act—which offers more protection such as mandated maximum working hours, overtime pay, and leave entitlements—compared to the “ambiguous language” in legislation that governs MDWs.

She said: “Domestic workers will likely be keen to re-balance the relationship as one between a provider and a consumer of valued services, instead of perceived ownership.”

“In the long run, stronger protections and reduced vulnerability may increase the attractiveness of live-out domestic work as an employment prospect.”

Unlikely to shift completely

Having said that, Asst. Prof Ye noted that a complete shift away from live-in domestic workers is unlikely for now, as some households might require services that don’t fit into the on-demand, part-time model.

Still, the assistant professor stressed that hiring live-in MDWs who may not always be appropriately trained is not a “sustainable” solution in the long run for those who require round-the-clock caregiving services for seniors, young children, or people with special needs.

“As our population ages, such needs require more comprehensive and affordable forms of caregiving services that households can access, especially those from lower or lower-middle-income groups,” said Asst. Prof Ye, noting that domestic services should be “considered and developed within this wider economy of caregiving.”

At this point, she also cautioned that a blended model of part-time and live-in domestic workers may not necessarily lead to greater equity for workers.

“Case studies emerging out of South Africa, India and the United States remind us that existing inequalities and power differentials tend to be reinforced in models of on-demand domestic labour provision,” said Asst. Prof Ye.

She added: “Other concerns about the working and living conditions for domestic workers will require continued monitoring by MOM and the industry, including ensuring that employers provide safe and hygienic accommodation, the fair distribution of work amongst the women, job security and workplace health and safety protections.”

Rethinking the provision of domestic work

Asst. Prof Ye suggested in her commentary that the current situation with strict border controls is an opportune time to rethink how domestic work is provided and valued in Singapore, noting that the “long overdue” new measures to be implemented in 2021 and 2022 are a “step in the right direction” to addressing the well-being of domestic workers.

These new measures include mandatory rest day each month that cannot be compensated aware, enhanced medical examinations to pick up signs of abuse, and post-placement checks by employment agencies.

The assistant professor concluded: “About one in five households hire a live-in MDW. As workforce participation rates increase, alongside a rapidly ageing population, Singapore’s dependence on domestic workers looks set to increase further.”

“The next major steps would be the enforcement of protections for domestic workers, both live-in and part-time, whose labour we cannot do without.”

Mixed reaction from netizens

Netizens on the Channel NewsAsia Facebook page appear to have mixed feelings about this new model. Some rejoiced that this part-time model would provide MDWs with more protection from potential abuse and allow for higher earning.

Others stressed the need for live-in MDWs by families who require more from their domestic help, such as for childcare or caring for the elderly.

A couple of people suggested that those with very young children or elderly family members would need live-in help but that families with teenagers could do with part-time, live-out help instead.

One netizen, however, voiced concerns about health and infection control, saying with one worker going to multiple houses under the HSS model could lead to a new “super cluster”.

One netizen noted that while the part-time model is a good idea, each worker should be permanently assigned to a household in order to build familiarity which would make it easy for the familiies.

Another person wondered about the “trade offs” with this model, particularly about how workers under the HSS would be housed and whether there would be measures in place to ensure that workers do not end up spreading infection, especially during the current pandemic.