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Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
'I am so stressed and tired of my employer nagging every day' — Maid working in Singapore for 7 years says about her new employer
SINGAPORE: After spending seven years caring for children in various Singaporean households, a foreign domestic helper thought she had seen it all — until she landed in a new home that seemed to have broken a record for high turnover. The woman in question said the workload itself was manageable — 'can tahan' — but it was the daily nagging from her employer that wore her down. And in a household where seven other helpers had also walked away, it doesn't take a psychology degree to guess where exactly the problem is. In a Facebook post shared to the popular group Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper , the woman wrote: 'I'm just going to be 4 months working with my new employer, but I am so stressed and tired of her nagging every day 😔 Work can tahan (I can stand the workload), (but) … I want to transfer…' Photo: FB/Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic helper Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated case. Stories of helpers enduring chronic micromanagement, emotional distress, and even verbal abuse are not uncommon in Singapore. In the high-stakes world of domestic employment in the little red dot, that's less of a little red flag and more of a screaming big red neon sign. A revolving door of helpers Being the eighth in a line of helpers is not a stat anyone wants on their résumé, but here we are. While some employers might chalk up turnover to 'poor attitude' or 'laziness' (as so often seen in one-sided comments), it takes a toll on the mental and emotional well-being of helpers, many of whom leave their families behind to provide caregiving support abroad. The woman, whose name wasn't disclosed in the public post, said she was now considering a transfer, despite being only a few months into her contract, and asked if any new employer would accept her and allow her to go home in December. 'Can let me go home in December, as I have already booked my own ticket for vacation… hoping for your understanding. Thank you,' she wrote, hinting at a need for some relief time and perhaps a fresh start. The sisterhood responds: 'I feel u, sis…' Her plea struck a chord. Comments from fellow domestic helpers poured in, revealing a silent but united sisterhood who knew all too well the reality behind the kitchen doors: 'I feel u, sis. Hope u can get a new employer before u go back home, (so it will be) easier for u to come back here.' Another maid stated that 'Of course, got (there are) employer(s) will accept u. But the problem is, will your employer give you release papers?' and added her advice that 'Still got time to find. Try to find an employer without your current employer knowing. Ask the new employer to apply from overseas.' Between the lines, there's a silent strategy in play: find a new employer quietly, get paperwork in order, and hope the current employer doesn't throw a wrench in the plan. A system stacked against the helper? Despite the policies in place, many helpers fear repercussions if they express a desire to leave. The risk of being abruptly repatriated, blacklisted, or unfairly accused is a real concern. See also MOM will not mandate domestic helpers to stay home on rest days One comment summed up the dilemma succinctly: 'Find another agency that you have an employer with before going back home, sister…' This workaround — finding a new employer while still under contract — often skirts the margins of what's officially allowed, but for many helpers, it's the only way to survive and return to Singapore for future work. Burnout behind closed doors Let's be honest: no one books a one-way ticket to Singapore to be verbally picked apart daily. For helpers working long hours, often with little privacy, mental fatigue can set in fast, especially when paired with employers who micromanage every move or act as though hiring help also comes with a license to berate. When one helper after another walks out the door, perhaps the question isn't 'What's wrong with the helper?' but 'Why can't anyone stay in this house?' Moving forward with dignity and decency At the end of the day, the story is more than a cry for help — it's a reminder that retention isn't built on rules, but respect. This helper, after seven years of service, wasn't asking for luxury. She wasn't even complaining about long hours or heavy chores. She was simply seeking peace of mind and a workplace free from constant emotional stress. If anything, her story adds weight to the growing call for better protections, stricter enforcement, and perhaps a mindset shift among employers — from 'my maid' to 'a fellow human being earning a living away from home.' And to our unsung heroine, we hope you find a new home with an employer who values your experience, honours your vacation, and lets you breathe without the soundtrack of daily nagging. Because after seven years of service, you've more than earned it. If you or someone you know is a foreign domestic worker in distress, contact the official support channels below if resolving the matter calmly with the employer has not produced a peaceful outcome. Call the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) FDW Helpline at 1800 339 5505 Contact the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) at 1800 2255 233 for counselling, temporary shelter, and legal aid Report serious abuse (physical or verbal) directly to the police or MOM In other news, in a Facebook post that quickly stirred emotions in Singapore's online domestic helper community, one foreign domestic worker shared a jaw-dropping tale of life inside a household that has five helpers — and still, according to her, nothing is ever right. 'My lady employer has five helpers. For many months, everything we do, she sees as wrong. Always demanding — do this, do that,' the helper wrote in the Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper Facebook group. 'She is only thinking of the salary she's giving us and not our service to her family. Should I leave?' she asked for advice from other helpers and employers alike. You can read her full story here: Maid says her employer has '5 helpers, but still complains that all the work done is wrong and that she's feeding us too much'
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
SG man in his late 20s says he feels like a failure, but others remind him, 'Life is a marathon, not a sprint'
Photo: Freepik (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: A local Reddit user wrote about feeling like a failure, even though he's only in his late 20s. He wondered if he was an isolated case, asking if anyone else felt the same way. In a post on r/askSingapore on Wednesday (July 9), u/TotallyNotACheese explained that he is just about to pursue his first degree and added that he has little to no work experience. Part of the failure that he feels appears to be that he will be over thirty when he graduates—if he graduates at all— since he is currently experiencing ' some serious pre-uni jitters' as he has come to the realisation that he isn't very academically inclined is not likely to get good grades. 'Real talk, I'm not even passionate about the degree, it's in Accountancy, lol. It's more or less the increased pay that a degree will hopefully help me net, that's my main motivator, as my parents are getting older,' the post author wrote, adding that he feels alone, as he is also lacking social skills. He sometimes thinks of just skipping university entirely and going to work just as a poly grad, ' but my rational brain is thankfully kicking those ideas to the wayside.' Nevertheless, he characterised his current situation as 'all very suffocating.' Many commenters on the post endeavoured to encourage the post author, telling him it's not too late to have a life that's successful and fulfilling. 'My secondary school classmate went to ITE, did his NS, then poly, and finally NTU. By the time he was done, also inhis late 20s. 'Whether you succeed in life has nothing to do with where/when u start. More to do with grit, hustle skills, etc. Friend is now GM for a euro engineering firm. Never too late,' wrote one. 'Never give up, bro. You can do it! Life is a marathon. No need to sprint through it,' another pointed out. A Reddit user who replied to this comment added, 'This is so true. Life is a marathon; sprinting too hard will also lead to burnout. Also, know that yes, everyone's starting line might be different, and the resources that you have can be vastly different too. But you determine if you are constantly moving forward.' One 32-year-old commenter who's already had five jobs and is still an associate reminded the post author, 'Life is not all about work. Life is more than work. Nobody will care about you more than themselves, just like nobody in my current team cares that 'oh, you are still an associate in your 30s while having so much experience, you must be a failure. 'Who knows, you might propel fast and be better than you thought you would be in 5 years' time? Then all the worries you have about being a failure won't matter anymore. Cheer up, and just go with the flow. Cheers!' /TISG Read also: Man, 26, says he's already achieved SG definition of success, but wonders why he's so depressed () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
NDP 2025: Flag flypast in the heartlands; special SG60 aerial displays at Padang and Marina Bay area
SINGAPORE: As part of National Day celebrations, Singaporeans will be able to catch a sight of helicopters and the state flag flying by in the heartlands on Aug 9. Into its sixth year, the Fly Our Flag segment will feature two CH-47 heavy lift helicopters, each escorted by two AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, carrying the state flag across the island from 5.30pm to 6.20pm. There will be two routes, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Thursday (Jul 10). The western route will include locations such as Bukit Batok, Woodlands, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong and West Coast. The eastern route will comprise areas such as Seletar, Sengkang, Punggol, Pasir Ris, Tampines, Bedok and East Coast. AERIAL DISPLAYS AT PADANG AND MARINA BAY AREA As part of the pre-parade segment this year, the Red Lions and naval divers will be transported over the Padang and Marina Bay respectively before their descent for the inaugural Jump of Unity. During the parade and ceremony segment, there will also be a series of aerial displays to demonstrate the Singapore Armed Forces' capabilities in commemoration of SG60, MINDEF said. Two special aerial displays will be showcased, it added. Firstly, six F-15SG fighters will conduct an SG60 tribute in a delta formation, with the outer wingmen turning outwards before transiting into full afterburner climbs to symbolise continued peace and prosperity for the nation. The remaining four F-15SG fighters will continue to fly through in a diamond formation. Secondly, four F-16 fighters will execute a diamond cross turn, with the left and right wingmen breaking to the left and right respectively, followed by lead aircraft breaking to the left and the final aircraft breaking to the right. There will also be a state flag flypast across the Padang during the national anthem, and an enhanced salute to the nation during the parade and ceremony segment. The enhanced salute will see six F-15SG fighters executing an enhanced bomb burst manoeuvre with afterburners in a delta formation. This will be followed by four F-16 fighters flying through in a diamond formation to signify Singapore's diamond jubilee over the Padang after the national anthem. The mobile column will also integrate with an aerial flypast comprising 22 aircrafts in four formations over the Padang for the first time at a National Day celebration, MINDEF said. The first formation will be a multi axis flypast where six F-15SG fighters will approach the Padang from two opposite directions and flying past each other before going into full afterburner climbs. Next, a Jet Formation Flypast consisting of one A330 multi-role tanker transport, four F-16 fighters and one G550-airborne early warning aircraft will ingress from the west. The third formation will be a helicopter formation flypast, consisting of one S-70B Seahawk, two AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, two H225M medium lift helicopters and one CH-47 heavy lift helicopter, that will ingress from the south. Lastly, a transport formation flypast consisting of two C-130 Hercules aircraft and two Fokker-50 transport aircraft will ingress from the east to showcase the assets used in humanitarian assistance and peace support operations. 'These four flypast formations will be integrated with different land vehicle packets during the 'Defending Our Nation' and 'Our Strength in Action' segments of the Mobile Column, which will also include one ASTER 30, two SPYDER and two MPSTAR from the RSAF's ground-based air defence systems,' MINDEF said. FLYPAST IN THE HEARTLANDS On Aug 10, there will also be a fighter jet flypast over the heartlands from 6pm to 6.30pm. Four F-16s will conduct a Fighter Island Flypast in a diamond formation through the heartlands of Singapore. 'Each loop will be flown twice to allow Singaporeans to have time to enjoy the flypast,' MINDEF said.
