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Written Answer by Minister for Manpower Mrs Josephine Teo on Suspected Cases of MDW Abuse Flagged after Home-Based 6ME

Foreign manpower

NOTICE PAPER NO. 351 OF 2021 FOR THE SITTING ON 05 APRIL 2021

QUESTION NO. 896 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT ANSWERED BY END OF QUESTION TIME

NMP: Dr Tan Yia Swam 

To ask the Minister for Manpower in the cases where employers of FDWs use the home-based Six Monthly Medical Examination (6ME) services for their FDWs; (a) how may cases of suspected abuse of FDWs be flagged up; and (b) who is the doctor who signs off on the 6ME form. 

Answer: 

  1. The home-based six-monthly medical examination (6ME) service was introduced in 2018 to give employers the option of having their migrant domestic workers (MDW) complete their 6ME without leaving the house. This is more convenient for households with caregiving needs. A healthcare personnel from an approved service provider will visit the employer’s home to collect the MDW’s blood sample. The test results are then certified by a Singapore-registered doctor appointed by the service provider. 

  2. We recognise that with the home-based service, the certifying doctor would not have the opportunity to personally examine the MDW. We are reviewing this together with the other measures I spoke about in the earlier sitting on 8 March 2021, to strengthen protection of MDWs. 

  3. These other measures include looking into making greater use of touch points with MDWs such as their employment agents to make sure they have settled in well, enhancing one-on-one interviews of newly arrived MDWs and mandating off days. Neighbours and members of the community can also do their part by keeping a look out for those living in the same community who may need help.