The group, Working Committee 2, wants a standard contract, a minimum wage and codes of conduct for both employers and maids, the daily Today reported.

It also called for maids to be entitled to rest periods, medical benefits and leave, the report said.

There are about 140,000 foreign maids in Singapore, an affluent city-state of four million people. The maids come mostly from Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

It is not unusual for them to work an average 12 hour day without breaks except for meals. The contracts for Indonesian maids usually stipulate they are to work seven days a week while their Filippino counterparts usually get Sundays off.

No laws specifically govern maids' working conditions but there are tough penalties if they are physically abused.

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