(PHOTO: Carousell screengrab by StraitsTimes Singapore)
An online advertisement in Singapore drew the ire of many people because it offered to sell Indonesian domestic helpers.
The advertisement was reportedly seen on the mobile selling app Carousell posted by a certain user under the name “maid.recruitment.”
The Singaporean Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has identified that recruitment agency as SRC Recruitment LLP. They have already taken down the post and launched an investigation of the incident.
“Such an act is an offence under the Employment Agencies Act. The Ministry takes a very serious view on this matter, and we will not hesitate to take prosecution actions on errant Employment Agencies,” the MOM said in a statement.
Meanwhile, human rights and labor groups are condemning the advertisement as “unjust and demeaning.”
“Advertising FDWs (foreign domestic workers) like commodities is unacceptable and an offense” under the law, according to the MOM.
Singapore is home to almost 250,000 domestic workers, who are mostly from the Indonesia and the Philippines.
