Maid abuse

Under section 73 of the Penal Code, an employer convicted of causing hurt or grievous hurt (or any other offence under the Penal Code) to a domestic worker may be sentenced to twice the maximum punishment for the offence committed. Under this section, a domestic worker refers to any female house servant employed to provide domestic services of her employer’s house and who is required to reside in her employer’s house.

This section does not apply if the relationship between the domestic worker and employer does not adversely affect the domestic worker’s ability to protect herself from her employer.

Causing death of domestic worker by sustained abuse

Under section 304B of the Penal Code, an employer of a domestic worker or a member of the employer’s household who causes death to the domestic worker through sustained abuse shall be punished with up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fined or caned.

Allowing neglect, physical or sexual abuse of domestic worker

Under section 335A of the Penal Code, any person who allows neglect, physical hurt or sexual abuse of a domestic worker, or injury to the mental health of a domestic worker, by failing to take reasonable steps to protect the domestic worker from the said harm shall be guilty of an offence. Such an offence can only be committed if the offender is the domestic worker’s employer or a member of the worker’s employer’s household.

In the case where death is caused to the domestic worker, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 7 years, or with fine which may extend to $20,000, or with both.

In any other case, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 4 years, or with fine which may extend to $4,000, or with both.

For more information, please contact our criminal lawyer, Ray Louis, at 9090 8288.