Sleep on a yoga mat, work without pay: Singapore domestic helper’s shocking claim against British-Indian family goes viral

For many domestic workers in Singapore, a safe and clean room, fair wages, and basic respect are the bare minimum in a job that already demands long hours and significant emotional labour.

So, when a domestic helper publicly claimed that a new British‑Indian employer made her sleep on a yoga mat and refused to pay for four days of work, her story went viral online.

Singapore maid alleges that she was made to sleep on Yoga mat
A domestic worker known as Decena Jeny shared her experience in the Facebook group “Singapore Transfer (No Fees/SD), Direct Hire & New Helper,” where many helpers and employers connect. According to her post, she has been working in Singapore since 2008 and described herself as someone who had never faced such a situation before.

She wrote, “Good morning everyone, I'm working here in Singapore 2008 until now. First time in my whole life I encounter the employer, they new moving in Singapore. My previous employer, they moving out in Singapore today. It's a very kind and good employer from Indian(sic).”

Sleeping on yoga mat and a permit that was not processed

According to Jeny’s account, after her previous employer left Singapore, a friend helped her connect with a new, direct employer, a British‑Indian family that had recently moved to the country. She said she first contacted them on 12 March, officially left her former employer on 31 March, and joined the new family on 5 April.


From the very first day, she felt uneasy. She wrote, “When I'm working with them the first day, I feel uncomfortable already but I'm still working. I have a very small room, she give me the yoga mat to sleep. I'm ok with that because they new in Singapore(sic).”


She then said she worked for the family for four days, only to find out that her work permit was still under her previous employer’s name. She quoted a message from her old employer, who asked why the work permit was still linked to her, and added that the new employer promised to process it but never actually did.

Unpaid work and being blocked

Jeny explained that helpers in Singapore are not allowed to work for a new employer until their work permit is officially transferred. She decided to leave the employer but said she was not paid for the four days she had already worked.

She wrote, “But the worst, she never pay my 4 days work. They block me already. Now I have employer already. Wish God giving the punishment that employer in Upper Thomson, the British Indian, they new move in Singapore from Philippines. I feel very bad for them, such a very not good heart. This my room(sic).”


Her post ended with screenshots and photos, including an image of the cramped space she described as her “room.”

Social media response

One user wrote, “Please report this to MOM, they cannot ask you to work without a valid permit,” referring to the Ministry of Manpower. Another commented, “No helper should be made to sleep on a yoga mat. This is not acceptable,” while other user wrote, “You should be paid for every day you worked.”


Other helpers advised her to keep screenshots and messages as proof and to always check the work permit status before starting work, echoing guidelines that say employers must follow labour laws and treat domestic workers with dignity.