This is in response to Mdm Tan Ya Mei’s letter to the Forum Page on 25th January 2017. The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) would like to thank Mdm Tan for her inputs and we would like to assure her that CDE will take into consideration the points raised with regards to some older generation employers not being tech savvy enough to make electronic salary payments should it become mandatory.
Currently, most levy payments are done through Giro or via the AXS machine. As such, employers are already exposed to using the cashless method to make payments. CDE is advocating that these cashless electronic transactions can be extended to salaries so as to curtail issues on salary disputes. By making payment through Giro or bank transfer, the “safe keeping” component can be eliminated. It also benefits the employer and the foreign domestic employee by creating records of payments made, making the process of issuing salary transparent to both parties. As an upstream move to reduce the possibility of payment-related disputes, CDE is advocating for employers pay salaries of foreign domestic employees via Giro or bank transfers.
CDE would also like to encourage family members to lend a helping hand to the initial Giro set up for elderly employers. After the initial set-up, transactions will involve an automatic debit from the employers account on the stipulated date. Should monies not be available on the stipulated date, a second attempt will be made at a later date and a reminder will also be sent to the employer. Thus, this aids in reminding employers should there be an oversight of paying the salary.
As a non-government organisation that seeks to help both our foreign domestic employees as well as the employers, CDE will be extending its help to elderly employers with the initial Giro applications if need be. Employers can also contact CDE via its 24-hour-helpline (1800 2255 233) for clarifications and guidance.
Mr Yeo Guat Kwang
Chairman
Centre for Domestic Employees
