Rilek1Corner

Tag: domestic helper

  • Man Found Hidden Under Maid’s Bed, He Wasn’t An Intruder

    Man Found Hidden Under Maid’s Bed, He Wasn’t An Intruder

    A 78-year-old female employer of a maid from Myanmar, got the shock of her life when she discovered a man hiding under her maid’s bed.

    Her dog had woken her up at midnight and led her to the maid’s room. She opened the door and was startled to find a man hiding under her maid’s bed and her maid not in the room.

    She quickly called her son-in-law for assistance as she had been home alone with her 86-year-old bedridden husband. Her daughter and son-in-law rushed over. Finding the man under the bed, the son-in-law kept the man in the room and called the police.

    The man struggled to get out of the room and the son-in-law had to use his weight to keep the door of the maid’s room shut. He heard the man inside make a call on his mobile phone, possibly for assistance from his friends. In the meantime, his father-in-law, who had already suffered from two strokes, went into shock. Thankfully his wife, a doctor, was able to stabilise him.

    When the police arrived, they got the man out of the room and he knelt on the living room floor crying and saying he was sorry. The police questioned him and then let him go as no offence had been committed.

    It turned out that the maid from Myanmar who had been with the family for six weeks had invited the man into the house.The maid denied knowing the man who is thought to be working near Bukit Timah. However, the police determined that the man had been invited into the house and had not broken in.

    The family have employed maids for over 20 years and have never experienced anything like this before. They have sent the maid back to the agency. As his father-in-law is bedridden and his elderly mother-in-law is unable to care for him alone, they will be hiring another maid soon. However, not before installing further security in the house.

    Source: http://sg.theasianparent.com

  • Youth Puts Studies On Hold To Care For Cancer-Stricken Maid In At Her Own Home

    Youth Puts Studies On Hold To Care For Cancer-Stricken Maid In At Her Own Home

    He dreams of pursuing circus arts in an overseas university.

    But Mr Marshall Lim, 22, has put his plans on hold, all so he can accompany his maid home to Indonesia to look after her.

    The helper, Ms Jariyah, 40, has Stage 4 cancer and has decided to return to her hometown in Central Java to reunite with her family after working for Mr Lim’s family for 15 years.

    She has taken care of Mr Lim since she joined the household in 1996 when he was two years old. She also took care of his brother, Mayor, who is now 19 and a polytechnic student.

    Mr Lim said of Ms Jariyah: “She’s my other mother. She treats me and my brother like her sons.”

    Affectionately calling her “Auntie Jar”, he added: “Once Auntie Jar is settled down and better, I can always come home to continue my physical training to audition for circus school.”

    His mother, Ms Margaret Tan, 49, let Ms Jariyah return to her family in Cilacap once it became clear she has only months to live.

    Said Ms Tan, a divorcee: “I discussed with my boys about Jariyah returning home, and we decided Marshall could accompany her back.”

    They left on Sunday.

    Ms Tan made arrangements to pay for her hospital bills using insurance payouts when Ms Jariyah was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

    She even raised funds by asking friends to contribute.

    FAMILY

    Breaking down as she spoke to The New Paper on Tuesday, Ms Tan, who would only say she worked in the medical field, said Ms Jariyah had become family.

    She was her pillar of support when Ms Tan got her divorce in 2005.

    Said Ms Tan: “She was in a divorce once too, so I think she understands how it’s like. We bonded over this and found support in each other.

    “She took good care of the family during my divorce. She would give me advice and even talk to the boys.

    “I’m very grateful for that. She even made sure I was eating well. She went through a lot of hard times with me.”

    When money got tight in 2009, Ms Tan could not keep Ms Jariyah.

    Ms Tan said: “I found a good employer for her. She visited at least once every two months when she was with her second employer.”

    Ms Jariyah returned to Indonesia in 2012 but came back to work for Ms Tan in 2014.

    What would have been a happy-ever-after was cut short when Ms Jariyah started getting sick a year later, often running fevers.

    Eventually, she was diagnosed with cancer of the liver last month. It has spread to the lungs and uterus.

    In tears, Ms Tan said: “She’s not my domestic helper, she’s my closest friend. I just can’t accept the fact that she has cancer.”

    They tried treatments and herbal remedies, but ultimately Ms Jariyah decided treatment was “too expensive”.

    She then asked Ms Tan to let her return home to her parents.

    From Cilacap, Mr Lim told The New Paper on Wednesday that he has been looking after Ms Jariyah.

    She has fevers several times a day. He sometimes takes her out, like to the beach, for fresh air.

    Mr Lim said Ms Jariyah’s new house, which she hoped to build with her salary, had been under renovation since January. Due to lack of funds, the work stopped.

    He said: “Auntie Jar and I want to concentrate on getting well first before continuing renovations.”

    His bigger concern now is getting “healthy food” for her.

    MAKING DO

    “There’s a lack of variety in terms of fruit and vegetables, and berries – which are good for fighting cancer but are not available. I buy what is available and make do with what I have.

    “We also brought some quinoa from Singapore.”

    He has been helping with the chores at Ms Jariyah’s house.

    He said: “Auntie Jar’s daughter is still making food for me, so I have to force her to let me do chores or I’ll do it myself.”

    He has not planned when he will be returning to Singapore and does not have a long-term visa to stay in Indonesia.

    Said Mr Lim: “I guess I’ll stay for a month. Longer if possible, I’m not really too sure.

    “I just want her to be happy and healthy. If she’s happy with her family here, then I’ll be happy for her.”

    I’m very grateful for that. She even made sure I was eating well. She went through a lot of hard times with me.

    – Ms Margaret Tan, Ms Jariyah’s employer

    Her friends donate money to Ms Jariyah

    When Ms Jariyah, 40, was diagnosed with cancer, Ms Margaret Tan decided to raise funds for her treatment and for the renovation work on her house back in Indonesia.

    Ms Tan reached out to her friends, who donated money to help. She collected about $1,500.

    Said Ms Tan, 49: “I just want to help Jariyah, she’s important to me. We are not trying to be popular, we just want to do our best to raise funds for her. And I want to thank friends who have donated.”

    Ms Tan said the domestic insurance covers only hospitalisation and she does not know if it can be claimed.

    Ms Jariyah’s hospital bills cost $11,000.

    Ms Tan said: “We only have $15,000 per year for insurance payout, so we can’t afford chemotherapy, which is about $20,000.”

    Ms Jariyah did not consider chemotherapy as she knew it was expensive. The doctor told Ms Tan that Ms Jariyah would probably have months to live without chemotherapy.

    The Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Fast)also donated a token sum of $1,000 to Ms Jariyah.

    Fast is a non-profit organisation which promotes social support and skills training for foreign domestic workers.

    Initiated by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), it was founded in March 2005 and co-ordinates courses for migrant workers here, such as cookery, English and business skills.

    On how they knew of the case, Mr Muhammad Nizam Amlan, manager of Fast, said: “(Ms Jariyah) told a friend about her condition and her friend (a Fast volunteer) came to us about the case (last Wednesday). We thought it was a good way to provide assistance.”

    Ms Tan told TNP she hopes there would be people to help Ms Jariyah.

    She said: “The money would go to having a better living environment for Jariyah and also for treatment, healthy food.

    “We have to keep Jariyah happy, so she has strength to fight the cancer.”

    She shaves head to help maid’s son

    CHARITY: Domestic helper Mariza Canete watches as her employer Isabelle Claisse’s head is shaved at a fund-raiser for her son. ST FILE PHOTO

    Ms Margaret Tan and her sons are not the only employers here who are raising funds for their domestic helpers.

    Earlier this year, The Straits Times reported how an employer, Ms Isabelle Claisse, 38, a lawyer, went bald to raise funds for her domestic helper’s son.

    Ms Mariza Canete’s 11-year-old boy had a “potentially fatal” tumour on his left leg.

    Through two campaigns on Generosity, crowdfunding site Indiegogo’s charity platform, nearly $63,000 was raised.

    Ms Canete, 30, told The New Paper on Wednesday night her son had another operation on his leg earlier this month in the Philippines.

    She said: “It was an infection, but now he’s discharged and recovering at home. He’s better, though he’s still skinny, but his appetite is back.”

    Ms Canete is still working in Singapore while her son is recovering back home.

    To Ms Canete, “forever” will never be enough to express her gratitude.

    She said: “I feel so blessed that there are people who helped to save my son’s life.”

    Ms Claisse, 38, told TNP they are still seeking donations.

    She said: “It really was incredible. Obviously, in many ways it was an awful experience, but I was able to take so many positives from it.”

    Madam Tey Ah Neo is another employer here who helped her domestic helper. In 2014, The Straits Times reported that Madam Tey, a retired accounts manager, paid for Ms Rodalina Dalauidao’s three children’s university education.

    Madam Tey received the Foreign Domestic Worker Employer of the Year award, which was given out by the Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training in December that year.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Singapore Couple Staying In Orchard Road Condo On Trial For Starving Filipino Maid

    Singapore Couple Staying In Orchard Road Condo On Trial For Starving Filipino Maid

    A Singaporean couple is on trial for allegedly starving their Filipina domestic helper. She weighed just 29kg when she escaped from their Orchard Road condominium in April 2014.

    Lim Choon Hong and wife Chong Sui Foon, both 47, face one charge each under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, which states that employers are responsible for the “maintenance” of their foreign employee, including proving them with adequate food.

    Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, 40, had worked for the couple for almost 1.5 years before she escaped and sought refuge at HOME, a non-profit organisation that assists migrant workers, including domestic helpers.

    Ms Thelma lost 20kg whilst working for Lim and Chong. She told HOME of only being given instant noodles to eat twice a day for over a year. On some occasions, she was given bread.

    Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan lost 20 kg over a 15-month period while working for Lim Choon Hong and his wife Chong Sui Foon at their condominium in Orchard. (Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY)

    Chong also only allowed her to shower once or twice a week, keeping tabs on Ms Thelma to make sure she did not use any hot water, despite forcing her to shower in the condominium’s public toilet, Ms Christina Quek, the investigation officer in charge of the case, told the court.

    HOME reported Ms Thelma’s conditions to the Ministry of Manpower, who directed the NGO to send Ms Thelma for a medical check up.

    In court on Monday (Dec 14), Dr Lim Huiyu, senior resident at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s department of gastroenterology and hepatology who examined Ms Thelma in April this year, testified that she suffered “significant weight loss due to insufficient intake of food”. This conclusion was arrived at after ruling out medical or organic causes. So malnourished was Ms Thelma that she did not have her period for a year, the doctor said.

    “I WAS SHIVERING FROM HUNGER”

    Ms Thelma took the stand on Monday afternoon, and guided by Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Soo Tet, detailed her alleged ordeal.

    The couple asked her to work odd hours, telling her to sleep in the storeroom in the day and putting her to work overnight. Ms Thelma brought up a particularly draining episode when she woke up on a Monday at 7pm and was made to work without rest till Wednesday. She had told Chong she was tired from working over 24 hours, but was told to”hurry up and finish”, Ms Thelma told the court.

    The petite woman also recalled how she was “shivering from hunger”. “When I am still hungry, I will ask for more … sometimes she will give me more, but the next meal I will get less”, Ms Thelma said.

    Chong would sometimes add some meat and vegetables to her food, Ms Thelma told the court, but in the form of “one slice of tomato … or cucumber”. As for meat, Ms Thelma pointed to her little finger to indicate the size of the portion. “Is that all?”, DPP Tan asked. “Yes. I always felt hungry,” Ms Thelma added.

    “I DIDN’T RECOGNISE MYSELF IN THE MIRROR”

    Ms Thelma was never allowed to eat out with the family. Even when Lim and Chong brought their three children to stay at Raffles Hotel, they packed instant noodles and bread for Ms Thelma.

    “I became skinny. I didn’t recognise myself when I looked in the mirror,” Ms Thelma said. She broke down sobbing at one point, and had to be given a 10-minute break to compose herself.

    The 40-year-old also told the court she felt weak in general, and that her clothes were getting looser. After a while, her hair started dropping out. She stopped getting her period in February 2013, a month after starting work for the couple.

    Ms Thelma told the court that she tried to plead with Chong for more food on one of the instances when the Singaporean was supervising her whilst she showered. “I pleaded with her when she was in the bathroom with me: ‘Look at my body, I am skin and bones already’”. But Chong pretended not to have heard her, she said.

    Ms Thelma sobbed uncontrollably in court and covered her face when shown pictures of herself at 29kg, after running away from her employers’ home.

    If found guilty, Lim and Chong could be jailed up to 12 months and/or fined up to S$10,000.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Beware! Do Not Hire This Filipino Maid Who Stole From Employer

    Beware! Do Not Hire This Filipino Maid Who Stole From Employer

    <Complaint by Michelle Yu-Tan>

    Dear all, this was my previous helper here in Singapore. Her name is Laurence Angela Lardizabal Soria and might go for the last name Perez. I would just like to make a public note that we had already sent her back home to the Philippines after 3 offenses of lying and stealing from us.

    She is from Batangas San Jose. After giving her a chance the first and second time round, the last offence she commited was stealing money from my wallet. Although she already confessed for taking the money when confronted before sending her back, we were surprised that no apologies was even said.

    Please be aware of who she really is and if you happen to know someone who would think of hiring her, think again. If you have valuables, it will disappear.

    Please do me a favour to share this and spread it out so it may reach everywhere in the world. Who knows, her next destination might be in your country.

     

    Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com

  • Old Man Coughs But Maid Ignores And Continues Eating Her Sumptuous Meal

    Old Man Coughs But Maid Ignores And Continues Eating Her Sumptuous Meal

    <Facebook complain by Ailee>

    Was here having lunch with my mum and saw this FDW with an old uncle opposite our table. The old uncle was having plain rice with veg and the FDW was having full plate of chicken wings, drumstick with rice. She was totally enjoying her food and ignoring the uncle even though he was coughing badly.

    After a while, she cannot stand the coughing sight/noise, she left the old uncle alone at that table to eat by himself and shifted herself with her food to another table to enjoy her food!

    This is ridiculous! Pls share to everyone, hopefully can reach the employer to let him/her know about how the helper is treating the parent.

    Source: ww.allsingaporestuff.com