Over the years in the industry, I have met a variety of cases, ranging from helpers having boyfriends, helpers stealing, helpers borrowing from loan sharks, and even helpers staging suicide.
As much as we screen the helpers, it is inevitable that the outcome is sometimes less than desired. This is because helpers are human beings, and they will succumb to temptations, be influenced by the people they hang out with, or have uncontrollable negative thoughts. These are beyond the control of the agency or even yourselves as employers.
I remember attending to a case of theft which happened in a new immigrant family. The helper was engaged due to her competency in speaking Mandarin, and she was an experienced helper who had worked in Singapore for about five years, taking care of children. She was an excellent candidate, as during her five years of employment, she picked up Mandarin really fast and even learnt how to read Hanyu Pinyin. Looking great on paper, she was employed by my client without much thought.
All was well, and the helper worked really hard, helping the family set up their home from scratch as all their furniture had been shipped in from their home country. The house was huge, yet she managed it single-handedly. Each time I visited, she lamented a little about the fact that the house was three storeys high and she had to do everything by herself. But each time, she smiled and said, “It’s okay, Mam.”
Soon, the extended family moved in. Initially, all was well. As time went by, the helper started telling me that she could not get along with Grandma, and that Grandma was prejudiced against her nationality because they had a reputation for being scammers. I spoke to her, comforted her, and told her that elderly people usually need time to get used to having a stranger in the house.
She remained positive and continued to work. However, every few weeks, she would text me to tell me how Grandma mistreated her or accused her of things she did not do. There was once she called me just to ask if Mam or Grandma had called me to complain about anything at all. I didn’t think much of it and told her that no one had called. I reassured her that nothing was going on and that she might be overthinking and being overly sensitive.
This went on for a few months. Then one day, I received a call from my employer telling me that she suspected the helper had stolen her daughter’s perfume, and she wanted to confront her in my presence. If it was verified that she had stolen it, she wanted the helper out of her home immediately.
I immediately headed over to the house. I recall it was around dinner time. Before I even arrived, the helper started texting me, explaining that the perfume belonged to her. I did not reply because I did not want to say anything that might trigger her. Once I arrived, I asked the helper if she had taken the perfume. She claimed that her friend had given it to her and that it belonged to her.
Madam took the bottle, pointed to a scratch on it, and said that it was definitely her daughter’s perfume because she knew how the scratch got there. She then asked the helper again if she had taken it.
The helper neither denied it nor replied. She just stood there, staring into space.
At that moment, I knew the helper had lied. Her reaction said it all.
I advised the employer that she had two options:
1. Report the matter to the police
Consequence: The investigation may take a long time. The helper may have to remain in Singapore to assist with investigations, and her well-being will still be the employer’s responsibility during that period.
2. Cancel the Work Permit, send the helper home immediately, report the case to the police, and submit the police report to MOM.
The employer decided to proceed with Option 2.
The helper was asked to return to her room to pack her belongings, and I accompanied her when we left the house.
Later, my employer called to tell me that there had been an earlier incident where her mother claimed she had lost a stack of cash amounting to more than S$1,000. At that time, she dismissed it, thinking that her elderly mother might have misplaced the money or forgotten that she had spent it.
Looking back, she began to suspect that the helper might have taken it and asked me to conduct a thorough check of the helper’s luggage.
That was when I recalled the helper texting me earlier to ask whether anyone had called to complain about anything.
Unfortunately, the money could not be found—not on her, nor in her luggage.
In situations like this, if the helper had indeed taken the money, it is possible that she had already remitted it back home during one of her days off.
How can employers reduce the risk of theft?
One preventive measure is to install CCTV cameras. I know many people feel uncomfortable having CCTV in their own homes, as it can feel like you’re constantly under surveillance. However, CCTV also serves as a deterrent. A helper who knows there are cameras is likely to be more cautious and less inclined to do anything dishonest.
Another precaution is to do a quick check of your helper’s bag before she leaves for her day off. Some may feel this infringes on her privacy. However, the intention is not to search through her personal belongings, but simply to ensure that none of your belongings have accidentally—or intentionally—been taken out of the house. A quick check may allow you to spot any missing items immediately.
As an agency, our role does not end once the helper is deployed. In situations like these, we provide advice to both employers and helpers, assist with difficult conversations, supervise the packing of belongings when necessary, and help arrange repatriation where required. While no agency can guarantee that such incidents will never happen, having the right support can help employers navigate these situations calmly and appropriately.
