Stressed by conflicts with employer, domestic worker found relief through animal therapy

SINGAPORE – As she held a trembling guinea pig in her arms, Philippine domestic worker Beverly Tamiao Gomez teared up.

Her pent-up stress had finally found an outlet during a mindfulness workshop conducted by the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) in 2023, which included animal therapy.

Berated constantly by her employer, Gomez had been unable to eat or sleep properly and lost about 7kg in two years.

Cradling the guinea pig reminded her that she needed to take care of herself, said Gomez, now 47.

“Like us, if the animals feel stressed, there is a technique on how (to) hold them,” she told The Straits Times in April.

Gomez subsequently confided in the workshop’s trainer about her struggles.

Set up by NTUC, CDE is a non-governmental organisation supporting the welfare of migrant domestic workers in Singapore. It is one of several groups here increasing awareness and support for the workers’ mental health in recent years.

Director of NTUC’s migrant workers segment Michael Lim said it has observed more openness among migrant workers to share their problems in a group setting.

“That is a big, important first step because it reduces the barrier for workers to speak up,” said Lim.

In the interview with ST, Gomez teared up when recalling her past employment experience.

When her former employer got angry, she would hit doors and raise her voice. She often criticised Gomez’s cooking, even though the food was prepared based on her instructions.

“I went to my room and cried... (I felt) I am doing my best, but you are not contented,” said Gomez.

She had joined CDE upon friends’ recommendations in 2019. Through its network, she heard about the mindfulness workshop and decided to join it.

After that experience, Gomez attended other activities organised by CDE, where she learnt journalling techniques and stress management methods such as meditation.

She started working for another employer in July 2025. Now, she listens to her favourite rock music, jogs or bakes when she feels stressed.

On the front line

Most of the domestic workers who call CDE’s 24-hour helpline face issues adapting to their new work environment, said its case officer Mariati Abdul Rahman.

She typically handles 10 such calls on night shift, compared with about five to eight calls during the day.

Over the phone, case officers ask callers about the issues they face, address concerns and offer advice.

Some domestic workers told Mariati they did not dare to seek help at first as they were unsure if their employers would be informed.

“We assure them that by calling CDE, they are on a safe platform. We are not going to speak to their employers, but rather give them advice and solutions to consider,” she said.

As domestic workers may not directly talk about their emotions, Mariati gauges their well-being by looking for other signs of distress, including difficulty sleeping or losing their appetite or weight.

Case officers refer domestic workers who need professional help to non-profit organisation Silver Ribbon (Singapore), which arranges for counsellors to speak to them.

Though the counsellors may not be able to solve every domestic worker’s issues, Silver Ribbon (Singapore) executive director Porsche Poh said they focus on providing emotional support and building resilience.

Appealing for more empathy among employers and the public, she said: “How we treat domestic workers shows how gracious we are as Singaporeans.”