This is going to be in the employment contracts drawn up by maid agencies, despite the government rejecting calls to grant maids mandatory rest days.

While it may not be compulsory for employers to give maids a day off every month, the maids can be assured that they will be getting more money for their sacrifice.

The Association of Employment Agencies is finalising details of a standard employment contract which stipulates at least a day off a month or $20 more in their salaries.

The 500 over maid agencies in Singapore have to adopt these recommendations or risk getting their accreditations removed.

The association will also take agencies who flout the rules to task, by barring them from deploying maids.

"The contract will entitle the domestic helper to have at least one off day, up to four off days a month. In the event that the maid is required to work on the off day, she has to be compensated," said Angland Seah, president of the Association of Employment Agencies.

The association is also lobbying to raise the salaries of domestic helpers.

At present, with a day off a month, Filipino maids are paid an average of $350, while Indonesian maids get $250 to $300 and Sri Lankan maids get $250. The pay hike is expected to be between $20 and $40.

However, existing contracts will not be affected but employers are encouraged to adopt the standard guidelines.

And to help employers get their money's worth, it has opened a National Skill Training Centre for foreign domestic workers.

One aspect they are working on is safety for the maids.

The Singapore Indonesian Embassy says 124 Indonesian maids have fallen to their deaths since 1994.

This is an average of 10 death falls a year.

The two-day course is meant for both new and seasoned maids, covering basic domestic household trainings to sessions on areas such as childcare and eldercare.

- CNA /ls

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