Hi Gilbert,
I was referred to you by a friend – I am currently still unemployed after been unfairly dismissed by a foreign Indian recruitment company after I returned from my maternity.
My replacement is my coverer – also another foreign Indian.
I am paid a salary of $3000 plus covering sales administrative duties for a multi-national company whose contract is managed by this foreign Indian recruitment agency.
I am 36 years old and earned a degree at SIM (RMIT). I have three young children.
Here is a brief description of my ordeal:-
I have been working with my client company AT & T for 13 years via a total of three agencies.
The third recruitment agency – Encora Technologies is the most horrible agency that I have been with only for one year from Dec 2012.
While I was pregnant with my third child, they made me took up additional workload without sharing with the other 2 team members (both FT from India), citing headcount cut.
Knowing that I won’t be leaving to forsake my maternity leave, they forced me to take up the load even after feedback to them that this was impossible.
Before I went on maternity leave, they sent a replacement (also FT Indian with the fact that she was a full time housewife for 2 years before).
I spent more than a month’s time to coach this coverer.
When I came back from my 4 months of maternity leave and after working for about 2-3 weeks, my agency released my termination news without disclosing that my coverer would be taking over from me.
My agency only mentioned that it was due to my client company business restructuring and not due to my work performance.
I later found out to my horror that the agency had actually replaced me with my maternity coverer who is still currently working in my client office.
I felt totally devastated at the unfair treatment meted to me especially at been replaced by my own coverer who is of a cheaper resource to them.
Moreover, after working with my client company AT & T for 13 years, I did not get any compensation due to my outsourced contract with them.
They merely provided me with a month’s notice, that’s all.
I also felt so unethical that my agency (also FT Indian business development manager) has replaced me with their own kind.
I have looked up various avenues – Tafep, MOM and still waiting for NTUC union to intervene.
I have went down for interview with MOM and found that there is no Employment Act protection to back up for my case.
MOM just suggested to arrange another interview with this agency together and see what they have to say – still pending for my decision on this.
This agency also claimed all my 4 months’ maternity salary and hired cheaper replacement which they had already made a profit out of government/me.
I also have three young children at primary school going age and a ailing mother to take care of. I am also suffering from depression since I was dismissed unfairly.
My husband earns a decent income but without my share of the income, life is going to be hard for our family.
After sharing my case, any advice/experience from you?
Thank you.
Rgds
Veron
Gilbert Goh's note: I cried profusely after reading this email and exchanged a flurry of mails with the writer to find out more about her ordeal. We will fight hard for justice to be meted for our own kind – please support us Singaporeans as we try to find a light for this Singaporean woman who was unfairly dismissed after giving birth. Who will want to give birth anymore if their jobs are not secure after maternity and at the risk of been taken away by incoming foreigners?
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