While social media often lights up over cases of domestic helpers being mistreated, content creator Sylvia Sia recently shared that she found herself on the other end of the spectrum: facing weeks of harassment and threats after showing compassion to her helper.
In an Instagram post on November 13, Sylvia recounted how what began as an act of kindness spiralled into a nightmare involving loan sharks, harassment, and police reports.
Yikes.
Sylvia has since written to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), who informed her that her now ex-helper will no longer be allowed to work in Singapore.
According to Sylvia, the ordeal began on October 22, when her helper claimed that her husband had been badly injured in an accident and begged to fly home immediately. She also said her son had been hospitalised with dengue and asked for her salary in advance.
“She said he couldn’t move and was crying very sadly, red eyes and constantly sniffing,” Sylvia wrote.
Wanting to help, Sylvia agreed to give her the salary in advance, paid for her flight, and expected her to return by October 27.
She never did.
