Domestic worker in S'pore bitten by employer's dog, allegedly not brought to doctor for 1.5 days

MOM investigations are ongoing.

Jane Zhang | June 02, 2021, 08:21 PM

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A migrant domestic worker in Singapore suffered some bloody wounds after being bitten by her employer's dog, when she was learning to feed it.

The pain continued for around one-and-a-half days before she was brought to a doctor to seek medical treatment.

Bitten by dog while feeding it

On May 28, a Facebook user named Sinta who later identified herself as the cousin of Puii, the domestic worker who was bitten, shared a post in the group Complaint Singapore about the incident.

Speaking to Mothership, Sinta explained that Puii had only been working for her employer for about one month.

The biting incident occurred on Saturday, May 22, when Puii was being taught by her employer's adult daughter how to feed the family's dog when the dog bit her. This was Puii's second time feeding the dog.

Videos of the injury posted by Sinta show the extent of the injuries.

[Warning: videos containing blood and injury ahead]

In one, which appears to have been taken soon after the bite, Puii's right arm can be seen dripping with blood from the bites.

Another video shows several wounds that appear to be quite deep, as well as a number of other abrasions and scratches.

Not the first time this happened

Sinta told Mothership that this was not the first time that her cousin had been bitten by her employer's dog. The previous instance occurred when she was first being taught to feed the dog and it bit her in the thigh.

However, Sinta said, because that bite had not been so bad, Puii did not go to the doctor.

Photo courtesy of Sinta.

This time around, though, the bite was more serious. Sinta said that after Puii was bitten, her employer's daughter helped her to wash and dress the wounds, and gave her some medicine to take.

However, they did not bring her to see a doctor.

Lianhe Zaobao reported that Puii was given permission to sleep in the next day (Sunday, May 23), but was still asked to perform housework.

Puii's employer allegedly said that they could not bring her to the doctor that day because the clinic was closed.

Around 10am on Monday, May 24, Sinta said that Puii called her saying that the wounds were very painful and that she had not yet been brought to the doctor.

Sinta said that she then called Puii's employer, who did not answer the call, before sending two messages, to which she also did not receive a reply.

Sinta claims that only after she texted Puii's employer and threatened to call the police if they did not bring Puii to the doctor, did the employer finally bring Puii to the clinic at 11:30am on Monday, May 24.

At the clinic, Puii was vaccinated and given medication.

Asked to be transferred to another employer

After the incident, Puii asked to be transferred to another employer.

According to Sinta, Puii's employers stated that they were not willing to pay for her lodging at her employment agency, and wrote a letter for Puii to sign stating that she would pay for her own lodging.

Sinta wrote of her cousin:

"Currently, her loan is 5+ months, if she goes back home, she will need to pay back the agency. Therefore she has no choice.

Now this girl is waiting for another new employer to take her in at the agency. But I felt this is not fair to her."

Puii is reportedly doing better, although her wounds are still painful.

Sinta said that she reached out to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for support, and MOM has since gotten in contact with Puii and called her in for an interview.

MOM investigations ongoing

Responding to Mothership's queries about the incident, an MOM spokesperson confirmed that a domestic worker was bitten by her employer's family's dog while feeding it, based on initial interviews with both the domestic worker and her employer.

MOM stated:

"Immediately after the incident, the employer applied medication on her wounds. As the pain did not subside, the MDW was subsequently sent to a nearby clinic."

MOM confirmed that Puii is now staying with her employment agency.

MOM investigations are ongoing.

Top photos via Facebook / Sinta.