The following article was published in TODAY on 7 Dec 2006.
Maids need better healthcare protection;In light of cut in subsidies, current insurance plans inadequate, says group
By Lee U-Wen
TODAY (Singapore, 7 December 2006
A LOCAL society that campaigns for the welfare of foreign workers has called for greater protection for maids with regard to their healthcare costs.
Transient Workers Count Too president Braema Mathi said the existing insurance requirements for maids "may not be enough" to cover high medical fees such as for hospitalisation.
Ms Mathi, a former non-constituency Member of Parliament, made these comments in the light of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement last Sunday that foreign workers in Singapore will no longer receive subsidies from the Government for healthcare.
Sometime next year, adjustments will be made by the Ministry of Health to require all foreign workers to pay the full amount, with employers now being urged to buy medical insurance to protect them.
Currently, the Ministry of Manpower requires all employers who want to employ a foreign maid to purchase for her a personal accident insurance plan with a minimum insured sum of $10,000. Most plans typically include a $5,000 coverage sum for hospitalisation and surgical expenses as part of the package.
While the exact quantum of the healthcare fee increase is not yet known, Ms Mathi said it is time to review the current minimum sum insured and introduce a more tailored plan for maids.
There are about 160,000 foreign domestic workers employed here, mostly from the Philippines.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that about 10,000 foreign workers were admitted to either a B2 or C-class hospital ward last year. This makes up just over 5 per cent of the total 223,000 admissions.
Speaking to Today during a student conference on foreign domestic workers held at Ngee Ann Polytechnic yesterday, she said: "If healthcare costs become too exorbitant and the insurance coverage is not adequate, then we must do something about it, for the sake of both the employer and the maid."
Ms Shirley Koh of Good Link Employment Agency said: "Right now it's optional whether employers want to buy a better insurance plan or go for a basic plan. Most settle for the basic."
Besides insurance, employers have many other additional costs to bear. They have to ensure their maid undergoes a medical examination and is certified fit. Every six months after that, the maid is required to undergo a medical screening for pregnancy and Aids, among other things. Employers are also required to bear the full cost of medical care the maid incurs, including hospitalisation.
One suggestion by Ms Mathi is to draw up a standardised medical insurance scheme for maids that cover most of the common illnesses and diseases. Maid agencies and insurance firms could then work together to offer this scheme at an affordable price to employers, making it a win-win situation for all parties.
"There will be economies of scale, given the fact that there are 160,000 foreign domestic workers here in Singapore. Selling the scheme at a low cost but with a high coverage would be advantageous," she said.
The insurance policies for maids vary from company to company. Leading insurer NTUC Income has a special Foreign Maid Insurance plan that provides coverage such as $10,000 for repatriation, $10,000 for death and permanent disability, and up to $900 for wage compensation. Premiums range from $35 to $150 for a 26-month period.
Said veteran unionist Mdm Halimah Yacob: "With the new rules coming up, I suggest that employers purchase medical insurance or additional cover, pay a low cost for the premium now, and not run the risk of being saddled with a big financial burden in the future."
