SINGAPORE: One person was killed in a fire that broke out early on Tuesday (24 September) in a Housing Board flat at Choa Chu Kang Crescent, Singapore.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the blaze at around 5:25am. Firefighters from Bukit Batok and Woodlands Fire Stations arrived on-site shortly after being alerted.

According to an SCDF statement posted on Facebook, the fire broke out on the ninth floor of Block 692A. It spread across both the living room and a bedroom of the affected flat.

To gain access, firefighters had to perform a forcible entry into the unit.

The fire was extinguished using a water jet and two Compressed Air Foam backpacks.

Despite efforts to control the blaze, the rest of the flat sustained significant heat and smoke damage.

One person was found in one of the bedrooms during the operation.

Firefighters carried the individual out of the flat, but they were pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.

SCDF confirmed that no other persons were present inside the affected unit at the time of the fire.

In response to the incident, approximately 150 residents were evacuated from the block as a precautionary measure.

SCDF worked alongside the police to ensure the safety of all residents. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

According to SCDF’s 2023 statistics, the total number of fires rose to 1,954, representing an 8.6% increase from 2022’s 1,799 cases.

Electrical fires and unattended cooking were the two leading causes, accounting for 597 and 456 cases, respectively.

However, while fire incidents increased, fire-related injuries and deaths showed a significant decline.

SCDF reported that fire injuries fell from 171 in 2022 to 81 in 2023, and fire deaths dropped from eight to three during the same period, with two of these fatal incidents occurred in residential flats.

A Singaporean influencer, identified only as “L,” has sparked controversy after filming herself berating her domestic worker for being “slow” and sending the footage to Regent Maid Agency.

The video, later shared by the agency on Facebook on 16 September, revealed L’s dissatisfaction with the worker’s performance, prompting public backlash.

In a statement, the agency explained that the woman had expressed her frustration with the helper’s language proficiency and work performance shortly after hiring her.

In the video, L is seen sitting in front of a table with the domestic worker standing beside her.

L initially insists that she is not scolding the worker, but confronts her for not responding to a question, claiming the helper had remained silent for “a minute and 46 seconds.”

“Are you gonna to answer?” L asked the helper twice in the video.

At around 50 seconds into the video, L loses her temper, slamming the table and shouting, “Halo! You think what? My time is very what? What do you think you are?”

Subsequent footage shows L flipping through a booklet detailing household chores, with specific times down to minutes logged next to each task, such as vacuuming and cleaning.

L Enforces Strict Chore Documentation System for Helper

The domestic worker, a 25-year-old from Myanmar, began working with L on 12 July.

According to Regent Maid Agency, L had requested a worker who spoke English well, despite opting for the salary range of a fresh worker.

The agency claims they had managed L’s expectations prior to confirming the worker.

However, L reported that the helper did not meet her expectations in terms of English proficiency and work pace.

The agency revealed that Ms. L implemented a system requiring the helper to document completed chores and the time taken for each task, which ultimately caused further dissatisfaction.

While the agency’s agent worked to manage Ms. L’s expectations regarding the helper’s abilities and salary, they provided continuous support to both parties, including counseling sessions aimed at addressing performance and communication issues.

However, the helper allegedly experienced significant stress due to the work environment, which included instances of verbal abuse. She sought assistance from the agency and even considered repatriation due to the challenging conditions.

According to the agency, L expressed her intent to escalate her concerns to several high-ranking government officials, including Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, and Mr. K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs.

Additionally, as an influencer, L threatened to publicly highlight her experience to discourage others from facing similar issues.

L also requested to replace the domestic worker. However, Regent Maid Agency explained that, per the service agreement, third-party fees are applicable for a replacement.

L reportedly claimed that her friends were not charged similar fees by other agencies, but Regent Maid Agency emphasized that L was made aware of the terms when signing the agreement.

“We do not recycle helpers who are unsuitable. Our goal is to find the best fit for both employers and helpers, avoiding unnecessary frustration,” the agency explained.

“While employers have the right to express their concerns, it is also important to recognize the challenges faced by agencies and helpers. We are committed to handling each case with professionalism and fairness.”

Agency and CDE Respond

Despite numerous attempts to address L’s feedback and concerns, including counselling sessions for the worker, the situation did not improve.

Regent Maid Agency disclosed that L allegedly continued to file complaints, including after operating hours, sometimes as late as midnight.

Since the video was posted, the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) has contacted the agency to assist with the issue.

The CDE has escalated the matter to the Ministry of Manpower for further investigation.

CDE encourages any migrant domestic worker in need of assistance to reach out via their 24-hour helpline at 1800-2255-233 or through their Facebook page.

Netizen Criticized the Influencer for Demanding “Butler’s Standards” from Her Helper

Netizens widely condemned the influencer’s behavior towards her domestic worker, with many expressing outrage over the disrespectful treatment and unreasonable expectations.

Some criticised whether the influencer for expecting “butler’s standards” from a helper, pointing out that tracking tasks down to the minute and shouting at the worker was excessive and unfair.

Several netizens were disturbed by the influencer’s tone, slamming the table and shouting at the worker, calling it a clear form of verbal abuse. Some urged the agency to support the worker and file a formal complaint.

Many netizens expressed empathy and heartbreak for the domestic worker, highlighting how the public humiliation and harsh treatment were unjustifiable.

They criticised the culture of entitlement some employers display toward their helpers.

A Netizen Recalls Stressful Experience of Documenting Every Chore While Working for a Family

A netizen shared her personal experience of working for an family, highlighting the stress caused not by the workload but by the need to meticulously document all chores.

She was were required to write down the start and finish times for each task, including cooking, and provide detailed explanations of how the food was prepared, step by step.

“Everytime I cook food I also write it the down and you need to explain what you put first in order until the food cooked.. imagine I make food 3 to 4 times a day and 3 types of food even roti prata or rice need to record in the piece of paper”