Case for a uniform foreign worker levy (including for maids) in Singapore.

Case for a uniform foreign worker levy (including for maids) in Singapore.

pattanispirit (HWZ) said:if min wage is implemented, does that apply to maids as well ?

based on current working hr of maid, it's 6 days x 12 hrs min.

that's 72 hrs work week, which means 72-44 hr =28 hr OT, which at least 12 hrs double pay and the rest 1.5x.

if assuming yr min wage is $7 a hour, their basic should be $1,334 + 16x1.5x7 + 12x2x7 = 1334 + 168 + 168 = $1,670

can govt still implement maid levies ? 

will housewives still can work part time or full time ? 

will children give up their career to take care of their sick or old parent ?

if work outside earning 3k, after cpf and other expenses, what take home is just nice to pay maid. 

so, uni grad, dip holder, pmet rather work at home to take care of babies & old ppl than to work for paying maids.

Before I answer your calculations, do note that there are National security implications wrt over reliance on foreign manpower for domestic chores or manual labor because one can expect these labour sources to very quickly dry up the moment civil unrest breaks out in region or in Singapore.

The miserableness of life will be much exaggerated if Singaporeans don't have the capability to fend for themselves: e.g. ride a bicycle to get around, do own house hold repairs, cook for themselves and help look after the neighbors kids etc.

Even the SAF is crucially dependent upon foreign manpower in order for it's fighter jets to take off and land, what happens if the foreigners deliberately work slowly or even sabotage the operations of our military?




Specific to your calculations, minimum wage for all including maids will bring up manual workers dignity level because their wages are not undercut by cheap foreign labour and with more PMET openings (due to foreigners paying a uniform levy across the board), some Singaporeans more suited for PMET jobs will not jostle with those desiring menial jobs. Top end wages (e-pass level, politicians, CEO etc) are exaggerated by the fact that there is no foreign worker levy liability/deduction so employers can pay this group of employees much more.

As a group, cleaners and manual labourers are paid much less because to hire this cohort of workers, a high foreign worker levy is to be paid to government.

With overall improved job security for Singapore citizens in local jobs, productivity and national pride can be expected to improve in the long run.

Wrt domestic helper Levy's, these can be deducted from the minimum wage (i.e. wages plus levy paid to government must exceed the minimum wage), so the total costs of a foreign domestic helper may not exceed the minimum wage. Foreign domestic helper are a unique category which may warrant unique labour and salary laws because they stay in with their employer whom by Singapore tradition, clothe and feed them, don't have fixed work hours and some even also enjoy their employer's condo facilities (the lucky ones have time off to play beach volleyball at Sports hub beach volleyball court); therefore, maybe their salary can be fixed at a lower quantum, suffice to say, the levy paid to government on a foreign domestic helper shouldn't be any lower than a foreign worker in any other job. Those who cannot afford a full time helper should hire hourly house keeping service or pay their neighbors to look after their kids. Vice versa, some housewives can operate their own mini infant care service within their own homes or in the case of public HDB flats, PAP and other operators operate many child and elder Care centres at void decks providing both childcare and also respectable jobs to the residents living in vicinity locations.