Helper home leave/pregnancy etc.

[Gracey]

As for Singapore -- I think it's awful that FDHs get deported immediately just bc they go through the natural process of getting pregnant. Getting pregnant is not a crime.

Clearly it's immoral -- and, to boot, it discriminates based on nationality and class. No American woman expat in Singapore would lose her visa because she decided to have a child with her husband. But an Indonesian maid would.

But, of course, we are not in Singapore.

 

[mummymoo]

I would put away the idea about 'asking' the helper to take a depo injection to prevent pregnancy. Unfortunately there is a significant power difference here and even though you mean to offer it to her as a choice it is likely she construes it as a must. I would just say to her that if she ever needs to talk to you about anything that she can approach you, and suggest a range of topics like the stock market (if you know anything about this that is!), term deposit rates, any illnesses she is experiencing, contraception ect and leave it at that.
I agree with the poster who suggests that if you are worried about a pregnant helper than hire an older one. Unfortunately as inconvenient as pregnancy is both in our homes with helpers and in the office, it is a woman's right and that goes for helpers as well as all working expats and locals. Somehow, asking someone to temporarily sterilise themselves, especially in light of the power differential, does not sit right with me.