Argumentative Essay - Who Says Domestic Workers Are over Working

Fiona Peh CFS 31C

Practice 2: Argumentative Essay (Case: Who says domestic workers are over working?)

Dear Mdm Low Ai Choo,

You stated that weekly off is not needed for domestic helpers because they are able to rest in the course of their work everyday and you urged the government to consider on the consequences of allowing domestic helpers to be entitlted to a day off weekly.

I find your argument to be weak. Although domestic helpers can rest during their spare time, for example, when the children are at school or when they are taking a nap but the short rest might not be sufficient for them to last throughout the day. As stated in your anecdotal edvidence, your domestic helper goes to bed by nine every night but this does not apply to most of the domestic helpers in other household. The domestic helpers that you came across as written in the article are just a limited percentage of domestic helpers who spend their spare time congregating and chatting away. There are also a group of domestic helpers who needs to work all round the clock from preparing meals for the household, taking care of children as well as the needy elderly to making sure the household chores for one particular day has to be done.

I have a different opinion on this issue. The domestic helpers have to take care of the household chores and get groceries from the market everyday. Most of the household have young kids or needy elderly who requires special care, how much spare time do they actually have to rest? Although some domestic helper might go to bed before their employee but they have to get out of bed before anyone else in the household do simply because they have to prepare breakfast for the family. There are also domestic helpers who do not have spare time as they are busying coping with household chores, taking care of the elderly or children at home therefore they cannot afford to take a short break or nap during the day. All of these situation can affect one’s spirit and therefore, a day off is required.