Employer of Maid Who Jumped Off HDB Faces Growing Hospital Bill of Over $100,000, Seeks Donations from Public

[The_King]

A family in Singapore whose foreign domestic worker jumped from a HDB block on Sunday (16 Aug), is now seeking donations from the public to pay off hospital bills.

The employer’s son, Goh Meng Huang, set up a fundraising campaign on GoGetFunding site seek help for both his hawker parents who face a hefty sum from the multiple surgeries their 26-year-old helper underwent. According to the post, the sum then was at $80,000, but according to website Mothership, the growing bill has since passed the $100,000 mark.

While the Myanmar helper, May Thu, had survived and is said to be recovering well from the multiple fractures sustained, she is currently still bedridden in the hospital.

It is said that the hospital is unable to provide an estimated date for the helper’s discharge at this point in time, which means that the hospital bill is expected to continue ballooning.

Image source: GoGetFunding Website/Meng Huang Goh

According to Goh’s mother, the helper’s employer in an interview with Shin Min Daily News, the bill per day is over a thousand dollars.

Apart from growing hospitalisation bills, the 51-year-old hawker also said that she has to pay $500 a month for her mother’s accommodation in an old folks home. But as much as she wants to help, her earnings as a hawker makes it difficult for her to do so.

Following the incident, she got in touch with her helper’s family to inform them about the situation.

Employer Had to Foot Balance Amount Not Covered by Insurance Payout

While it is said that the domestic helper’s insurance provided a payout, it only amounted to $15,000 which meant the family had to foot the balance amount.

“But no money has been paid out at this point of time,” said Goh.

As of writing, $43,262 has been raised by the public, less than half of the $100,000 goal—causing the family to utilise the fundraising platform to seek further help.

“My parents are both hawkers, selling yong tau foo. My brother is an office worker. I, myself, am a student. We do not have the ability to pay for this bill,” Goh added on the site.

“We might need to hold back on some of the subsequent surgeries as we did not expect a bill of this size,” he added.

Background of Maid Who Jumped off the Block

May Thu is said to have worked as a foreign domestic helper in Singapore since December 2017. The family later extended her contract after her 2-year contract ended in 2019.

She was in fact, due to travel back to Myanmar as part of home leave for three months, from 1 May 2020 to 31 July 2020.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic May Thu was unable to return to Myanmar in April as promised due to the suspension of flights, with “at least nine further extension [of flights]”, according to the site. She grew depressed as a result.

It is said that the employee and the maid, May Thu, have a good relationship together. | Image source: Shin Min News Daily

The employer also explained to May Thu about the cancelled flight, although May Thu did not seem to understand.

In early August, May Thu complained that her knees were hurting and requested to take a break. Her employer acceded to her request and paid for her to rest in the maid agency’s dormitory for a week.

According to the boss of the maid agency, May Thu often kept to herself despite her roommates’ attempts to socialise with her. She also suggested that May Thu extend her rest as she saw that her situation had not improved.

May Thu later jumped from the fourth floor of the maid agency’s dormitory on 16 August, according to police.

Attempted to Stab Housemate Before Jumping Off Block

Before May Thu jumped, she was said to have tried to stab her housemate but was unsuccessful.

According to Shin Min Daily, one of May Thu’s housemates said that she stepped out of the shower to find May Thu attempting to stab her with a pair of scissors.

The housemate ducked the attack and escaped into the living room. There, others living in the house also tried to hold May Thu back.

However, May Thu managed to break free.

According to police, May Thu tried to “stab herself, bang her head against the metal gate and eventually leaped off the 4th floor common corridor of her block”.

She was reportedly found lying motionless at the foot of the block and was conveyed conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Showed Worrying Signs Since Move into Flat

The housemate revealed that May Thu showed worrying signs ever since she first moved into the flat, and the housemates would see her crying and laughing regularly.

There was a time when May Thu said that her work permit was about to expire, but the language barrier between her and her housemate prevented her housemate from understanding further.

According to the housemate, May Thu also attempted to burn her passport at one point in time as well.

“We are saddened and dumbfounded. It is a possibility that May Thu has become depressed or facing other worries that has not been communicated with us or her agent,” said Goh.

SINGAPORE HELPLINES

• Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444

• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

• Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800

• Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222

• Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928

[The_King]

reminder, that one of the cons of a maid. andgetting a part time helper will not have all these money issues

[The_King]

i think this is the reason why china did this

Why drivers in China intentionally kill the pedestrians they hit.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/09/why-drivers-in-china-intentionally-kill-the-pedestrians-they-hit-chinas-laws-have-encouraged-the-hit-to-kill-phenomenon.html

[chamfer]

If anything happens usually maid agency will not care. It's written in their contract between employer and maid. It's LPPL.

 

Only when money is to be made from employer then maid agency will get in like transfer maid.

 

Best is not get any maid irregardless of which countries the maids come from.

[meng.huat]

1 hour ago, chamfer said:

If anything happens usually maid agency will not care. It's written in their contract between employer and maid. It's LPPL.

 

Only when money is to be made from employer then maid agency will get in like transfer maid.

 

Best is not get any maid irregardless of which countries the maids come from.

 

yes. maid agency are scums...

they earn commission from both sides, the employers and the poor maid.

the poor maids got to go into debt to pay the agents' commission before they can start work with their employers.

[chamfer]

My burmese maid just came back from her offday. She bought back a big bag of clothes and another pair of new shoes.She already 2 months ago bought back another big bag of clothes and new shoes.

 

I had to tell her that i only give her four large drawers cabinet to put her clothes which she shared room with my MIL. I had to remind her that she had no own room like what her 4 previous  sg employers (stayed in landed property) had provide for her. She can show you the unhappy face as though i own her $ like that after i spoke to her.

 

She thought that most of sg people stayed in landed property and money is easy to earn here than in burma. Her cousins who worked here are all working with employer staying in landed and she think i can provide the same level of treatment like what those rich people.

 

Really cannot 忍 on this in case she 得寸进尺 as if she own the place like that. She even want us to charge her phone almost everyday so that she can chat with her friends/family using my house wifi. 

 

As she is ex-sg maid, thus know that employer will 包 all the stuff she needs and wants including internet and additional electricity/water fees. Btw, this 28 year old maid can lie to you without batting an eyelid and even though she said she is buddhist when i first met her and now flip prata after 6 months ( pay off loan for 3 months) saying she is not the religious kind. She first time tell us she does not understand malay or chinese but 2 months later i found out she can well understand malay and some chinese as i can see her reaction when we spoke something among ourselves.

 

For those who think burmese maid is more 乖 than indon or pinoy,sorry to say that they will still give you headache as indon or pinoy.

Edited September 13, 2020 by chamfer

[chamfer]

18 minutes ago, meng.huat said:

 

yes. maid agency are scums...

they earn commission from both sides, the employers and the poor maid.

the poor maids got to go into debt to pay the agents' commission before they can start work with their employers.

I have to correct you not all maids are poor.

My current one told me that she ever spend $100+ to buy a dress with her monthly $500+ salary or sometimes spend all the monthly salary without sending money back home while working with her previous employers.

[The_King]

@chamfer

 

what the reason you need maid?

[chamfer]

24 minutes ago, The_King said:

@chamfer

 

what the reason you need maid?

MIL got dementia. But my other half does not think so and thinks a maid will help out in the housework and cooking as MIL is already 80 years old who still wants to cooks sometimes.

 

For me i would rather send her to those daycare centre and she gets back at home in the evening.

[The_King]

27 minutes ago, chamfer said:

MIL got dementia. But my other half does not think so and thinks a maid will help out in the housework and cooking as MIL is already 80 years old who still wants to cooks sometimes.

 

For me i would rather send her to those daycare centre and she gets back at home in the evening.

health problem then it a different issues

[chamfer]

To add on, the law and govt will protect the maid.

 

Employers who faced problems from picky /problematic maids will not be under govt care. Thus best install cctvs with recordings so that employer can provide evidence in case maid 诬赖 employer at MOM. 

 

 

[XianGe]

7 hours ago, The_King said:

reminder, that one of the cons of a maid. andgetting a part time helper will not have all these money issues

Tis applies to guys who eat out as well... 

[XianGe]

1 hour ago, chamfer said:

My burmese maid just came back from her offday. She bought back a big bag of clothes and another pair of new shoes.She already 2 months ago bought back another big bag of clothes and new shoes.

 

I had to tell her that i only give her four large drawers cabinet to put her clothes which she shared room with my MIL. I had to remind her that she had no own room like what her 4 previous  sg employers (stayed in landed property) had provide for her. She can show you the unhappy face as though i own her $ like that after i spoke to her.

 

She thought that most of sg people stayed in landed property and money is easy to earn here than in burma. Her cousins who worked here are all working with employer staying in landed and she think i can provide the same level of treatment like what those rich people.

 

Really cannot 忍 on this in case she 得寸进尺 as if she own the place like that. She even want us to charge her phone almost everyday so that she can chat with her friends/family using my house wifi. 

 

As she is ex-sg maid, thus know that employer will 包 all the stuff she needs and wants including internet and additional electricity/water fees. Btw, this 28 year old maid can lie to you without batting an eyelid and even though she said she is buddhist when i first met her and now flip prata after 6 months ( pay off loan for 3 months) saying she is not the religious kind. She first time tell us she does not understand malay or chinese but 2 months later i found out she can well understand malay and some chinese as i can see her reaction when we spoke something among ourselves.

 

For those who think burmese maid is more 乖 than indon or pinoy,sorry to say that they will still give you headache as indon or pinoy.

 

chiur maid kinda no use head cos bigger place means more to clean... My sis maid buay tahan work in landed till she chut stunt within a week... 

Maids will learn from their seniors so early good but will learn the bad stuff after... if can dun hire better dun...

[XianGe]

50 minutes ago, chamfer said:

MIL got dementia. But my other half does not think so and thinks a maid will help out in the housework and cooking as MIL is already 80 years old who still wants to cooks sometimes.

 

For me i would rather send her to those daycare centre and she gets back at home in the evening.

 

Wtf.. he like tat oso din realize

[chamfer]

5 minutes ago, XianGe said:

 

chiur maid kinda no use head cos bigger place means more to clean... My sis maid buay tahan work in landed till she chut stunt within a week... 

Maids will learn from their seniors so early good but will learn the bad stuff after... if can dun hire better dun...

Actually my maid only need to clean 1 room,1 toilet,living room and kitchen of my 5 room flat. No need to give medicine or take my MIL to bath or toilet as she is still walking with walking stick. Only push MIL out in wheelchair once or twice per month when MIL need to buy stuff.

 

She told me before that her cousin ask her if she want to work for another employer who stays in landed. I told her i'm not holding her back and she can ask for transfer to her burmese agent and i'm more than happy to let her go.

 

So you are quite right that she kind of no use head but think only of getting good food  and free wifi/charging of phone/free used clothes from rich employer.

 

 

[XianGe]

5 minutes ago, chamfer said:

Actually my maid only need to clean 1 room,1 toilet,living room and kitchen of my 5 room flat. No need to give medicine or take my MIL to bath or toilet as she is still walking with walking stick. Only push MIL out in wheelchair once or twice per month when MIL need to buy stuff.

 

She told me before that her cousin ask her if she want to work for another employer who stays in landed. I told her i'm not holding her back and she can ask for transfer to her burmese agent and i'm more than happy to let her go.

 

So you are quite right that she kind of no use head but think only of getting good food  and free wifi/charging of phone/free used clothes from rich employer.

 

 

Landed ppl can live frugal oso... So they maybe be eating steam egg and mince meat and green vege... Used clothes probably 10yrs ago fashion 

[chamfer]

17 minutes ago, XianGe said:

 

Wtf.. he like tat oso din realize

Ya... i told him my experience which my late grandma had (last time is called 老人痴呆症).

 

Night time active and no sleep until morning.

Talk to ownself like there is someone there.

Always say that relative/father/mother/husband touch her or speak to her at night.

Always suspect someone steal her stuff.

 

But he brushes them off saying it's just aging. Nearly had a big quarrel last time but now i just keep quiet.

[chamfer]

7 minutes ago, XianGe said:

Landed ppl can live frugal oso... So they maybe be eating steam egg and mince meat and green vege... Used clothes probably 10yrs ago fashion 

From what my burmese maid said (which i 一边听一边出) that they got eat 大鱼大肉 , take her go oversea stay hotel,give her branded clothes which is either new or only wear once or twice.

 

She said that in burma she also worked with the rich family there too. The rich burmese family sells jade and precious stones to china and she will accompany her burmese employer to china as she can understand and translate chinese to burmese to her employer.

 

Thus i always tell her if you want to work in my place, you eat what we eat. If not, just transfer to another employer.

[chamfer]

I pity the employer that they have to pay the hospital bill even though it's not their fault.

 

Hope this case highlight the problem employer might faced with when maid chut patterns just to try to get back to their homeland.

[XianGe]

36 minutes ago, chamfer said:

Ya... i told him my experience which my late grandma had (last time is called 老人痴呆症).

 

Night time active and no sleep until morning.

Talk to ownself like there is someone there.

Always say that relative/father/mother/husband touch her or speak to her at night.

Always suspect someone steal her stuff.

 

But he brushes them off saying it's just aging. Nearly had a big quarrel last time but now i just keep quiet.

 

Looks like he needa face reality... 

Yes those r dementia... it will oso make the elderly chut all stunt... At least chiur MIL no go berserk n shout/throw stuff/fight... 

Must be careful of caregiver stress

[XianGe]

28 minutes ago, chamfer said:

From what my burmese maid said (which i 一边听一边出) that they got eat 大鱼大肉 , take her go oversea stay hotel,give her branded clothes which is either new or only wear once or twice.

 

She said that in burma she also worked with the rich family there too. The rich burmese family sells jade and precious stones to china and she will accompany her burmese employer to china as she can understand and translate chinese to burmese to her employer.

 

Thus i always tell her if you want to work in my place, you eat what we eat. If not, just transfer to another employer.

 

Ya she buay song transfer lo... Can set criteria only join rich folks... 

[XianGe]

11 minutes ago, chamfer said:

I pity the employer that they have to pay the hospital bill even though it's not their fault.

 

Hope this case highlight the problem employer might faced with when maid chut patterns just to try to get back to their homeland.

 

Ya suay... But authorities will jz make employers buy comprehensive insolen

[chamfer]

5 hours ago, XianGe said:

 

Ya she buay song transfer lo... Can set criteria only join rich folks... 

That what i told her that she can transfer if her cousin recommand her a employer who stay in landed and she could tell her burmese agent what kind of employer she want to work in.

 

[chamfer]

5 hours ago, XianGe said:

 

Looks like he needa face reality... 

Yes those r dementia... it will oso make the elderly chut all stunt... At least chiur MIL no go berserk n shout/throw stuff/fight... 

Must be careful of caregiver stress

Truth hurts but what to do if he choose not to believe in what i told him.

 

Sometimes come home can tio black face by my MIL and she will tell my other half that money/clothes gone. Even tio suspect the food i buy to share around is unclean as she had stomachache after eating whereas the rest of the family had no such problem.

[The_King]

if i old and have all these problem, i really hope Euthanasia is allow