AT A recent briefing to members of the Association of Employment Agencies, Singapore (AEAS) by labour attache Vicente Cabe from the Philippine Embassy, it was highlighted that it is mandatory for employers who wish to hire Filipino domestic workers who are currently in the Philippines to submit the full set of application forms accompanying the in-principle approval (IPA) letter from the Ministry of Manpower.
One of the forms attached to the IPA details the employer's private and confidential information, such as financial status, occupation and place of work, date of birth, and identity card numbers and birth certificate numbers of family members.
How this information serves to protect the Filipino workers' interest is baffling.
In fact, it has become a constraint in employing Filipinos for domestic work.
By revealing their personal particulars to a third party who is not within the jurisdiction of Singapore, employers here are potentially jeopardising their safety and interests.
Such information can be passed on to virtually anyone, so it would be impossible to catch anyone who does so.
Revealing one's personal particulars when one is not seeking employment, but doing the employing, is throwing caution to the wind.
The AEAS should safeguard its members' client-employer interest with regard to this new requirement by the Philippine government.
Alice Cheah (Ms)
One of the forms attached to the IPA details the employer's private and confidential information, such as financial status, occupation and place of work, date of birth, and identity card numbers and birth certificate numbers of family members.
How this information serves to protect the Filipino workers' interest is baffling.
In fact, it has become a constraint in employing Filipinos for domestic work.
By revealing their personal particulars to a third party who is not within the jurisdiction of Singapore, employers here are potentially jeopardising their safety and interests.
Such information can be passed on to virtually anyone, so it would be impossible to catch anyone who does so.
Revealing one's personal particulars when one is not seeking employment, but doing the employing, is throwing caution to the wind.
The AEAS should safeguard its members' client-employer interest with regard to this new requirement by the Philippine government.
Alice Cheah (Ms)
