Three decades away from home: The silent strength of Mindy, a foreign domestic worker in Singapore

For 30 years, Mindy cared for families in Singapore while missing milestones with her own. Her journey reveals both the resilience and fragility of a life lived in service, far from home.

Mindy, a 60-year-old foreign domestic worker from the Philippines, marked her 30th year in Singapore this year. She arrived in 1993 from the Philippines, leaving behind four children, the youngest just over a year old.

“When I had to leave my family, my youngest daughter was only 1 year and 3 months old. Now she’s 32,” she recalled.

Over three decades, Mindy worked for families from Australia, the UK, the U.S., the Netherlands and China. Each new household came with its own dynamics, but her commitment never wavered. “When families go back for good, especially the ones you grow closest to… it’s painful. I looked after many children, and some became like my own. I love them.”

One memory remains vivid: “When I went home at the airport, their kids [were] very close to me, [and they were] crying.”

Outside of work, Mindy enjoys going for Filipino Volleyball Tournaments at sport facilities in Kallang and Bedok, where foreign domestic workers of different nationalities compete informally against one another. Other than her love for volleyball, she also enjoys upgrading herself through courses such as dressmaking, first aid, and nursing aid training. 

 All Mindy Asked For Was More Than Bread

For Mindy, mutual respect and open communication has always been the foundation of a healthy employer-helper relationship. 

One employer restricted her meals to bread for every meal over a month. “They went downstairs to eat, but I wasn’t allowed anything else,” she said.

“One day, I couldn’t take it anymore and asked them if I could go downstairs to buy something for myself to eat. They ignored me. ‘Why? There’s bread. Just eat the bread.’”

Mindy mustered the courage to tell her employers how she truly felt, that she was not asking for much, just to eat something other than bread.

Her employers listened, and soon they started taking her out to eat. “We even ate together with the other relatives like the aunties and uncles. I was so happy that this happened,” she said.

But one disagreement went too far.

 The Ultimatum That Changed Everything 

Mindy had always dreamed of becoming a nurse. When she asked one employer for an extra day off to study, they gave her an ultimatum: “Do you want your days off, or do you want to go home?”

By the next morning, a new helper had arrived. Her employers had accessed her bank account, used her money to book a flight, and ordered a van to take her to the airport.

“If you don't want to work with us anymore, pack your things,” they told her.

At Changi Airport, desperate and shaken, Mindy made a decision. “I have to get away,” she kept repeating. 

She asked to use the toilet and slipped away. “I didn’t know the airport well, I was only in Singapore for 3 years. So I read and followed the exit signs.”

A passerby saw her distress and asked if she needed help. “Can you help me get to the taxi stand, I have to get away,” she said.

She hid in the back of the taxi, praying her employers wouldn’t see her. Once they reached the highway near East Coast, the driver told her, “You’re safe now.”

He took her to the embassy, where officials helped her recover her wages and find a new employer.

Respect Begins with Our Responsibility

Mindy’s experience is a reminder of the responsibilities employers hold. Fair treatment, open communication, respect for privacy and finances, honouring rest days, and never threatening repatriation are basic obligations—not optional acts of kindness.

Every foreign domestic worker deserves safety, dignity, and the freedom to voice concerns without fear.

Today, Mindy is back in Boracay. After missing decades of birthdays, graduations, and family moments, she is now surrounded by her children and eight grandchildren.

Maid of Honour continues to advocate for the dignity, rights, and well-being of domestic workers like Mindy.

If you are being abused or ill-treated / suspect that an FDW is being abused or ill-treated, you can report it to the police or call the FDW Helpline (1800 339 5505) to speak to an MOM officer.

Disclaimer: Mindy is an alias to respect her privacy. The stories shared reflect personal experiences and may not represent all FDWs in Singapore. Each story is told to encourage understanding and respect. Any material, information or views expressed are those of the organisers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other supporting organisation.