Stricter rules for window cleaning by maids

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) today announced stricter rules for window cleaning by foreign domestic workers (FDW).

From today, employers of FDWs shall not allow their maids to clean the exteriors of windows except where two conditions are met.

First, the employer or an adult representative of the employer must be physically present to supervise the FDW.

Second, window grilles have been installed and are locked at all times during the cleaning process.

These rules will apply to all homes, except for those whose windows are at the ground floor or along common corridors.

Failure to comply with these tightened requirements constitutes a breach of the Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations.

Employers who fail to comply may be prosecuted and permanently barred from hiring a maid.

The ministry is also planning to double the penalties from the current $5,000 fine and/or six months' jail to $10,000 fine and/or 12 months' jail to serve as added deterrence. This s is part of the ongoing review of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and its subsidiary legislation later this year.

While anyone who cleans the exterior windows of their homes should follow these safety requirements, MOM emphasises that when maids are tasked to do domestic work, the onus is on both employers and FDWs themselves to ensure the FDWs' safety.

In a statement, MOM said: "Many FDWs do not come from high-rise environments and may not be used to the urban living environment in Singapore. They are therefore likely to be unaware of the risks in a high-rise domestic setting. Apart from window cleaning, employers should take necessary steps to eliminate the risks involved in other tasks by following the Dos and Don'ts covered in MOM's guidebooks and pamphlets."

"For example, if FDWs are required to hang laundry outside the window using bamboo poles, employers should ensure their FDWs do not stand on an elevated platform or tip toe while handling the poles, and do not overload the pole with too many clothes."

The new measures come at the back of nine work-related FDW fall from height fatalities since January 2012. This is a significant increase from just four cases registered in 2011 and eight in 2010.

MOM said that five of the nine fatalities were related to unsafe practices in cleaning windows.

A circular will be sent to all existing maid employers to notify them of the tightened safety requirements.

MOM will also be updating its training materials for first-time FDWs and FDW employers.

Members of the public can take a photo of unsafe work practices that they witness then send them to MOM using the recently launched free SNAP@MOM application or through email at mom_fmmd_cr@mom.gov.sg. All information will be kept strictly confidential.