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Agency that posted ads of maids 'sold' on Carousell charged: MOM

Indonesian domestic workers found listed on online marketplace Carousell. (File photo: Yahoo News Singapore)
Indonesian domestic workers found listed on online marketplace Carousell. (File photo: Yahoo News Singapore)

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday (4 October) charged the maid agency that posted online ads of Indonesian maids “sold” on e-commerce site Carousell for insensitive advertising of foreign domestic workers (FDWs).

SRC Recruitment and one of its personnel, 41-year-old Erleena Mohd Ali, will face 49 counts of advertising FDWs in a manner akin to a commodity, and another 50 counts of failing to ensure that the agency’s name and licence number are reflected in the ads. These are offences under the Employment Agencies Act.

If convicted, they may be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to six months or both. SRC’s licence has been suspended, while Erleena has been de-registered as an employment agency personnel.

The ads were placed between 1 and 17 September on Carousell under the username “maid.recruitment”, and they reportedly offered the services of several helpers from Indonesia. The ads caused an uproar, with Indonesian NGO Migrant Care condemning the adverts and calling for those behind them to be brought to justice.

The posts have since been removed.

MOM said that the ads cast the FDWs in an undignified light, adding that it expects all employment agencies to exercise sensitivity when marketing their services, as well as duty of care towards their clients, including FDWs.

It advises members of the public who have any information on such infringements to report the matter via its website (www.mom.gov.sg) or call 64385122.

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Anger at Singapore ads offering Indonesian maids for sale

MOM suspends license of job agency behind Carousell ads of Indonesian maids