A 53-year-old Filipino domestic helper has been fined SGD 13,000 in Singapore after she was found working illegally as a part-time cleaner while being officially employed by someone else, reports said.
The case also involved a 64-year-old Singaporean woman who had hired her for part-time cleaning without proper authorisation. Both were sentenced in court on August 25.
The helper, Pido Erlinda Ocampo, has been living and working in Singapore since 1994. Over the past 30 years, she served four different employers as a domestic worker. In 2018, she was introduced to Soh Oi Bek, a Singaporean woman who later gave her part-time work.
Erlinda worked at Soh’s residence for nearly two years, between April 2018 and February 2020. She returned to work again in March 2022 after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and continued until September 2024. At no point did she hold a valid work pass to engage in part-time work during this period.
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Erlinda performed household tasks such as sweeping, mopping, ironing and cleaning. She was paid SGD 375 per month for these services. Soh had hired her despite being aware that she was already employed by another party, citing personal need and trust in the helper’s abilities.
Later, Soh also recommended Erlinda to her employer, Pulak Prasad, for additional part-time work. From September 2019 to February 2020, Erlinda took up this job as well, working one to two times a month and earning SGD 450 monthly. Her tasks included cleaning, vacuuming, and changing bedsheets.
The Ministry of Manpower began its investigation in December 2024 after receiving a tip-off. Following the probe, charges were brought against both women under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Erlinda pleaded guilty to two of four charges, while Soh admitted to one of two charges. Taking into account the remaining charges, the judge imposed a fine of SGD 13,000 on Erlinda and SGD 7,000 on Soh.
While the defence requested a lighter penalty for Erlinda, the court noted that the prosecution had already taken a considerate approach in calculating the duration of the offence. The law allows for a maximum penalty of up to two years in jail, a fine of up to SGD 20,000, or both, for such violations.
