Domestic Workers Should Not Be Deprived of Companionship

A version of this letter was published in The Straits Times on 30 July 2007.

I would like to comment on 'Lusty foreign workers getting it on' by Khoo Shuling Patsy. The sentiment Ms Khoo expresses in her letter is shared by many employers and employment agents. However, it is not possible to police the behaviour of consenting adults and deny individuals the right to socialise.

It is only natural for anyone to desire companionship and sexual intimacy. If employers are worried that domestic workers may become pregnant or catch sexually transmitted diseases, it is more practical to provide sex education, rather than preventing them from having boyfriends. What is important is establishing open communication, mutual understanding, and realistic expectations in the employer-employee relationship. Instituting prohibitive measures which restrict a domestic worker's movement and activities is not an effective solution.

Everyone has a social life beyond their careers. We look forward to unwinding, spending time with our families and friends after work. Why should we have different standards and expectations for foreign domestic workers?