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Foreign domestic workers to get mandatory weekly off day

From 2013 onwards, employers are required to give their foreign domestic workers a mandatory weekly off day. (Yahoo! file photo)
From 2013 onwards, employers are required to give their foreign domestic workers a mandatory weekly off day. (Yahoo! file photo)

Foreign domestic workers (FDW) will now enjoy at least one rest day every week, under a new law announced in Parliament on Monday.

The new ruling will require a weekly rest day for FDWs, while providing employers the flexibility to compensate their FDWs with extra pay should the worker agrees to work on their rest day, said Minister of State for Manpower and National Development Tan Chuan-jin.

For each rest day forgone, the FDW shall be compensated with at least one day's wage on top of her monthly salary. One day's wage is calculated by dividing the monthly wage by 26 working days.

Instead of monetary compensation, employers can also give FDWs a replacement rest day, but it should fall within the same month as the rest day forgone.

For those such as the elderly who are unable to give their FDWs frequent off days may apply for the monthly FDW Grant of $120. This FDW Grant is over and above the existing FDW Levy Concession of $95 per month for households with elderly.

"A weekly rest day is regarded internationally as a basic labour right. Local workers and non-domestic foreign workers already enjoy this right under our Employment Act," said Tan.

"As Singapore is among the few FDW receiving countries with no provisions for weekly rest days, this regulation is also expected to enhance Singapore's attractiveness as a destination for quality and experienced FDWs," he added.

The requirement will kick in for all work permits issued or renewed after 1 January 2013.

FDWs with permits issued or renewed before 1 January 2013 are not covered by the new regulation and will be allowed to continue with any existing arrangements until the work permit expires.

For existing FWDs, this new regulation will not apply to the remaining tenure of their work permit. The weekly rest day requirement will only apply when the FDWs' Work Permits are up for renewal on or after 1 January 2013.