The Ministry of Manpower has suspended the license of SRC Recruitment LLP for its Carousell ads of Indonesian maids for sale. (SCREENCAP: maid.recruitment/Carousell)

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has suspended the license of the employment agency which posted online ads offering Indonesian maids for sale on Carousell and may prosecute the agency upon investigation.

In a media statement issued on Wednesday (19 September), the ministry stated that SRC Recruitment LLP has been served with a notice of licence suspension and can no longer emplace any new foreign domestic workers.

The ministry added that it is “investigating into the agency with the view to take prosecution actions for infringements under the Employment Agencies Act”.

Kevin Teoh, Commissioner for Employment Agencies, stressed that the ministry is “committed to protect the well-being” of maids and “strongly condemns” the advertising of their services in “an undignified manner”.

“Advertising FDWs on an internet platform meant for trading goods is completely inappropriate and unacceptable. Such an act is an offence under the EAA,” said Teoh. “The ministry takes a very serious view on this matter, and we will not hesitate to take prosecution actions on errant employment agencies.”

The MOM had put out a post on Facebook “immediately” to warn employment agencies against such practices, after it was alerted to the postings on Carousell last Friday.

The posts on the e-commerce site were advertised under the username “maid.recruitment” and reportedly offered the services of several helpers from Indonesia, while some ads indicated maids had been “sold”.

The posts have since been removed.

“The MOM expects all EAs to exercise a duty of care towards their clients, including FDWs. The Ministry sternly warns EAs against similar actions that would denigrate the dignity of FDWs working in Singapore,” said the ministry.

The MOM has informed the Indonesian embassy that the ministry is investigating the case.

Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Indonesian NGO Migrant Care, told AFP on Wednesday that the group “strongly condemned” the adverts and called for those behind them to be brought to justice.

“This is very unjust and demeaning to the migrant workers’ dignity,” said Wahyu, according to the AFP report.

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