FAQs ON WEEKLY REST DAYS FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC ...

after 1 January 2013.
- Once the FDW’s work permit is renewed on or after 1 January 2013,
their employment contracts must be made consistent with the new rest
day provisions and compensation in lieu of rest days, if any, from the
date of renewal of work permit.
- Specifically, we will allow the employer and FDW to mutually agree
on which day of the week the rest day should fall.
- We will also allow compensation in-lieu of a rest day in the form of a
replacement rest day within the same calendar month or payment of at
least one time the FDW’s daily wage.
5. If I renew my FDW’s work permit after 1 Jan 2013, will I need to sign a
new employment contract with new rest day provisions in it? What
would the rest day arrangements be if I do not sign a new employment
contract with her?
• For Work Permit renewals after 1 Jan 2013, we would encourage
employers to sign a new employment contract that makes clear the rest
day arrangement that employers and FDWs have mutually agreed upon in
line with the new Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes)
Regulations (EFMR). If there is no valid employment contract, the rest
day arrangement would follow the rest day requirements as stated in the
EFMR.
• If a new employment contract is not signed after the Work Permit is
renewed after 1 Jan 2013, the rest day arrangement within the existing
employment contract will only be valid if it is in line with the new EFMR.
If it is not, the rest day arrangement would follow the requirements in the
EFMR from the point of the FDW’s Work Permit renewal.
6. Will employers be allowed to request FDWs to contract off all or part of
their rest days for a period of two years in return for a higher salary?
• To give greater flexibility to employers who require FDWs to work on rest
days and FDWs who prefer to work on rest days, employers and FDWs
may contract off all or part of the FDWs’ rest days for a period of two
years by paying compensation in lieu of the rest days.
• The agreement to contract off all or part of the FDW’s rest days in return
for a higher salary can be re-negotiated if the employer and FDW mutually
agree to do so.
- If the FDW and employer are unable to reach a mutual agreement, they