Micromanagement of foreign domestic workers in Singapore: The influence of state regulations and laws

Abstract

Based on 30 in-depth interviews with employers in Singapore, this article examines how and why employers engage in micromanagement of foreign workers. The results suggest that government laws and regulations influence employers’ exercise of power of the workers. The S$5000 security bond and the day-off regulation shift the responsibility of policing the foreign domestic worker from the state onto the employers. Although some employers may choose to refrain from micromanaging their domestic workers, most employers perceive micromanagement as their legal entitlement. Employers who micromanage their domestic workers tend to engage in micromanagement of three key areas of worker life: their daily routine, social circle, and movement. Therefore, micromanagement is a tool that employers frequently use to guarantee that their S$5000 security bond will not be forfeited.