Term 3 Week 1 (Weekend Assignment)

Most Singaporeans nowadays have at least one maid in their houses. It is convenient and not too expensive, perfect for the Singapore society. Maids are people to so they too need their rest. However, this matter can be quite trivial compared to other cases but only 12% of maids get days off. In the end, it all boils down to the morality of the employer. Therefore, I agree that days off should be legislated.

Some people confuse their maids for machines. Tell them to do something and they expect total obedience. However, even machines need to be recharged. These maids work on an average of 14 hours a day. Also, more than half the maids start work at 6am and end work between 8pm and 9pm, according to their employers. A quarter end work at 10pm. Think about it, if you employer makes you work 14 hours a day and no days off even on Saturdays and Sundays, how would you react. I do not even think one would take up such a job. Furthermore, it is proven that resting helps improve a person's performance. A while rested maid will certainly be more efficient than one who works non-stop. Maids need the rest whether you like it or not, if employers cannot see this point, compulsory days off should be legislated.

On the other hand, this matter is can be quite small compared to cases such as murder or scams. Resources should be concentrated on more the more important cases. There have been many cases that have been rejected due to the lack of importance in the subject. However, the severity of this topic must also be brought into consideration. If only 12% of maids are given weekly days off, the scale of this case expands. If one person falls sick from food poisoning, nothing much would happen but if 90% of the people who eat from a stall gets food poisoning, the stall would most likely be closed down for lack of cleanliness. Even if the case might not seem much, the number would show that this is something that needs to be improved on.

I am appalled by the way these Singaporeans treat their maids. It is morally wrong to make someone work without giving them any rest. Even construction workers get at least one day off. By not giving employees their holidays, it is only dragging down your moral standards. One might be extremely rich, but if he or she does not treat the people working for him well, that person is trash.

In conclusion, being a made is a job and having a proper job means having days off. If people are unwilling to do that, it should be a law.