MOM probing death of domestic worker believed to have fallen while cleaning windows

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is investigating the death of a domestic worker who is believed to have fallen while cleaning windows.

The woman was

found lying motionless at the foot of a Toa Payoh HDB block

on Sept 25 and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her employer told Chinese-language news outlet Shin Min Daily News that the domestic worker had likely fallen while cleaning windows, adding that the helper had begun employment only on Sept 20.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, an MOM spokesperson said on Oct 3: “We are deeply concerned about such incidents and would like to remind all employers of the importance of ensuring the safety of their migrant domestic workers.”

The ministry advised employers to guide domestic workers on safe practices when performing tasks such as window cleaning.

“This includes checking that window grilles are properly installed and locked before any cleaning is carried out,” said the spokesperson.

All first-time employers and domestic workers are educated on essential safety measures during the Employers’ Orientation Programme and Settling-In Programme, said the ministry. These programmes include practical guidance on how to clean windows safely, it added.

Executive director of the Centre for Domestic Employees Michael Lim, in a media response on Sept 30, urged employers and domestic workers to prioritise safety and to exercise caution when performing household tasks.

However, domestic workers may face difficulty refusing work that is dangerous or illegal, said Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics.

The charity’s director of casework and legal Jaya Anil Kumar said on Oct 1: “Many migrant domestic workers, particularly those who have newly commenced employment, find it difficult to say ‘no’ to their employers.

“They fear being scolded, or worse, being terminated for not complying.”

Ms Kumar also reiterated that work pass regulations explicitly forbid cleaning windows in a dangerous manner.

In June 2012, MOM announced that employers of foreign domestic workers are not allowed to let them clean the exterior of windows unless strict safety conditions are met.

An employer or adult representative must be present to supervise the domestic worker. Window grilles must be installed and locked at all times during the cleaning.

The rule came about following the deaths of five domestic workers between January and June in 2012. They had fallen while cleaning windows in an unsafe manner.

According to MOM’s website, employers and domestic workers are required to sign a safety agreement before employment commences.

In 2021, the authorities took about 60 people to task from 2016 to 2020 for failing to provide safe working conditions for their helpers while they were cleaning windows.

These figures were made public in a response to queries from The Straits Times after a

26-year-old Indonesian helper died in hospital

after being found at the bottom of a block of flats near Hougang MRT on March 29, 2021.

She is believed to have been cleaning windows when she fell.

For failing to ensure the safety of their domestic workers, employers can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both. They may also be barred from employing a domestic helper in the future.