Recourse for Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers with Mental or Critical Illnesses

Debated in Parliament on 15 Aug 2016.

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Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about recourse for employers whose foreign domestic workers (FDWs) have pre-existing mental or critical illnesses not covered by compulsory insurance and whether such illnesses should be mandated for coverage.
Lim Swee Say explained that FDWs must be certified fit by a Singapore-registered doctor and declare their medical history, with false declarations leading to work pass revocation, court charges, and permanent bans from working in Singapore.
Employers bear the cost of medical treatment for FDWs, including undiscovered illnesses, but current compulsory insurance covers 97% of inpatient and day surgery bills at public hospitals, with assistance available for those facing genuine difficulties.
Mandating coverage for pre-existing illnesses would raise insurance costs for all employers, so it is carefully considered, though employers can voluntarily purchase additional insurance or conduct more medical checks before hiring.

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Full Transcript

Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what recourse does an employer of a foreign domestic worker (FDW) have when the hired FDW already has a mental illness, cancer or critical illness which may not be discoverable at the time of hiring and these are excluded from the compulsory insurance cover; and (b) whether it can be mandated that these illnesses be areas of coverage in the compulsory insurance which FDW agencies and/or employers of FDWs need to procure.

Lim Swee Say

Every foreign domestic worker (FDW) is required to be certified fit for employment by a Singapore-registered doctor before she can start work. This involves a medical examination by the doctor and a declaration by the FDW on her medical history, covering pre-existing conditions, such as mental illness, diabetes and heart disease. Any FDW who makes a false declaration will have her work pass revoked, may be charged in Court and permanently barred from working in Singapore.

To ensure that the medical costs incurred by individual FDW are not transferred to other taxpayers, employers of FDWs are required to bear the cost of any medical treatment incurred by their FDWs. This includes illnesses not discovered earlier. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the current compulsory medical insurance coverage already covers fully 97% of all inpatient and day surgery bills for FDWs at public hospitals. For the small minority of employers who face genuine difficulties in paying their FDWs' medical bills, they can seek assistance from medical social workers at the relevant healthcare institutions.

To keep premiums affordable and provide adequate coverage, insurance companies which sell the compulsory medical insurance for FDWs currently do not cover pre-existing illnesses. Mandating compulsory coverage of pre-existing illnesses will raise costs for all employers, even for those who do not need it, and, therefore, needs to be carefully considered. Regardless, individual employers can voluntarily purchase additional insurance for greater coverage. Additionally, employers can choose to send their FDWs for more medical examinations prior to employment to check for pre-existing illnesses.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about recourse for employers whose foreign domestic workers (FDWs) have pre-existing mental or critical illnesses not covered by compulsory insurance and whether such illnesses should be mandated for coverage.
Lim Swee Say explained that FDWs must be certified fit by a Singapore-registered doctor and declare their medical history, with false declarations leading to work pass revocation, court charges, and permanent bans from working in Singapore.
Employers bear the cost of medical treatment for FDWs, including undiscovered illnesses, but current compulsory insurance covers 97% of inpatient and day surgery bills at public hospitals, with assistance available for those facing genuine difficulties.
Mandating coverage for pre-existing illnesses would raise insurance costs for all employers, so it is carefully considered, though employers can voluntarily purchase additional insurance or conduct more medical checks before hiring.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Recourse for Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers with Mental or Critical Illnesses

Debated in Parliament on 15 Aug 2016.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about recourse for employers whose foreign domestic workers (FDWs) have pre-existing mental or critical illnesses not covered by compulsory insurance and whether such illnesses should be mandated for coverage.
Lim Swee Say explained that FDWs must be certified fit by a Singapore-registered doctor and declare their medical history, with false declarations leading to work pass revocation, court charges, and permanent bans from working in Singapore.
Employers bear the cost of medical treatment for FDWs, including undiscovered illnesses, but current compulsory insurance covers 97% of inpatient and day surgery bills at public hospitals, with assistance available for those facing genuine difficulties.
Mandating coverage for pre-existing illnesses would raise insurance costs for all employers, so it is carefully considered, though employers can voluntarily purchase additional insurance or conduct more medical checks before hiring.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Lim Swee Say

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked about recourse for employers whose foreign domestic workers (FDWs) have pre-existing mental or critical illnesses not covered by compulsory insurance and whether such illnesses should be mandated for coverage.
Lim Swee Say explained that FDWs must be certified fit by a Singapore-registered doctor and declare their medical history, with false declarations leading to work pass revocation, court charges, and permanent bans from working in Singapore.
Employers bear the cost of medical treatment for FDWs, including undiscovered illnesses, but current compulsory insurance covers 97% of inpatient and day surgery bills at public hospitals, with assistance available for those facing genuine difficulties.
Mandating coverage for pre-existing illnesses would raise insurance costs for all employers, so it is carefully considered, though employers can voluntarily purchase additional insurance or conduct more medical checks before hiring.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Recourse for Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers with Mental or Critical Illnesses | PAPERCUTS

Recourse for Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers with Mental or Critical Illnesses

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Lim Swee Say

Summary

Questions Identified

Recourse for Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers with Mental or Critical Illnesses

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Patrick Tay Teck Guan

Lim Swee Say

Summary

Questions Identified