maids get 2 days off per week in......

Last night, about 8pm, I picked up a Philippina woman at Lucky Plaza taxi stand. She was going to Flora Road (off Old Tampines Road) to meet her cousin. I asked if she was living and working here and was surprised when she told me "No way, Singapore is the worst paymaster, my cousin works here as a maid and her pay is only $400 plus, she only gets one day off every week and have to work long hours, including washing her employer's car."

"Oh, so you are holidaying and visiting friends in Singapore?" She said no, in fact she will be going to Ontario, Canada, to work there, job confirmed, taking over her elder sister's job as a maid. Her sis wants to continue to study and become a nurse and her boss has accepted her as Paula's replacement. She continued telling me that her sis, Paula, gets paid Canadian $1,600 per month and after deductions for lodging, insurance for health and employment and contributions, like Singapore's CPF, she still gets more than Cad$1,000 and on top of that, she only has to work 8 hours a day including having saturdays and sundays off every week.

"Wow, is that true?" I exclaimed, and she said "Of course its true, my sis Paula works there for the past 3 years already, she got her PR after 2 years and can get to become a Canadian citizen after 3 years, which she has already applied, its their law there. Do you know, a maid there is not required to do housework but only looks after the employer's children?"

"That's fantastic, hey, you speak perfect English and by the way what's your name?"

"Dionne, thank you, I studied English in Manila and you know, Paula's employer treats her very, very well, even buys her a brand new bicycle for her own use and allows her to take driving lessons too. Paula's boss is a bank officer, his wife is a nurse and they have 3 children. Once Paula's citizenship is obtained, she can sponsor our whole family from Manila to immigrate there. Maids are entitled according to the laws in Canada, I am happy and looking forward to work there, thats why I am visiting my cousin here to tell her about all this and ask her to join me when her contract ends. Okay Uncle, can stop at the condo on the left, we're here."

She paid her fare and thanked me and I said "Thank you very much, you are so kind and I really enjoyed listening to you, my best wishes to you and God bless. Good night."

Well, that was very refreshing and interesting don't you think? As I have said before, we keep on learning everyday. Its now approaching 9pm, ah yes, there is a 24-hour coffeeshop at Drive 6, Pasir Ris, yes, thats right, that's where I'm heading to......