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Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Tough Life for ‘Study Mamas’
‘The last thing we want is more rules, making it harder for us to find jobs,’ a study mama said. ‘We just want a simple life and a good education for our children.’ PDF
‘The last thing we want is more rules, making it harder for us to find jobs,’ a study mama said. ‘We just want a simple life and a good education for our children.’
Mavis Toh 30 September 2008
The China Embassy estimates that there are about 5,000 peidu mamas in Singapore.
These are Chinese women who come here on long-term visit passes because their children are studying here.
There are about 36,000 Chinese students here, up from 32,000 in 2006.
A member from the Hua Yuan Association for new Chinese migrants says that Singapore is popular with students from China because of its predominant Chinese culture and the use of the language. It is also safe and geographically close to China and schools here charge reasonable fees.
China nationals interviewed said that about 70per cent of peidu (a Mandarin term which literally means ‘accompany study’) mamas are divorced.
These mothers generally fall into three categories:
* Wealthy ones who do not have to work, who live in private apartments in districts nine and 10 and who drive their children - who are usually in the better schools - around. * Middle-class mothers who are in service jobs like sales or who give Chinese tuition to Singaporean students. They live in HDB flats and their children attend neighbourhood schools. * Poorer study mamas who work in coffee shops and clean homes, live in HDB flats and whose children are also in neighbourhood schools.
Peidu mamas have made the news in Singapore since 2002, although not always for good reasons. Some have been called ‘husband snatchers’, others have been found registered with matchmaking agencies although they are married, and there are those who work in the sex trade.
The recent Yishun triple deaths were a hot topic among China nationals here and also much discussed on online Chinese forums. Most netizens expressed sadness for the victims and some tried to rally China nationals in Singapore to help the teenage survivor.
A peidu mama who wanted to be known only as Madam Chen said that most of these women lead difficult lives.
‘Our life here is already so tough, this gruesome murder is going to make it worse,’ said Madam Chen, 45. Three years ago, she left her job and husband behind in Tianjin to accompany her son, now 16, here. She cleans people’s homes for a living.
While she used to get about eight jobs a week, the number has dropped to five since the Yishun murders. ‘When Singaporeans see the trouble China nationals get into, they get worried and don’t trust us anymore,’ she said.
Most study mamas are on long-term visit passes. They are not allowed to work in their first year here. Thereafter, they can apply for a work permit, but are banned from working as bar and dance hostesses, masseuses and at food stalls.
Peidu mama Dai Kai, 40, said renting apartments was often a headache for China nationals. ‘Singaporeans say they don’t want trouble and will rent only to Malaysians,’ she added.
Madam Hu Xiu Ling, 36, said her heart sinks whenever she reads negative reports on study mamas.
She hopes the Government will not tighten the rules against them because of the Yishun killings.
‘The last thing we want is more rules, making it harder for us to find jobs,’ she said. ‘We just want a simple life and a good education for our children.’
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Tough Life for ‘Study Mamas’
‘The last thing we want is more rules, making it harder for us to find jobs,’ a study mama said. ‘We just want a simple life and a good education for our children.’
Mavis Toh
30 September 2008
The China Embassy estimates that there are about 5,000 peidu mamas in Singapore.
These are Chinese women who come here on long-term visit passes because their children are studying here.
There are about 36,000 Chinese students here, up from 32,000 in 2006.
A member from the Hua Yuan Association for new Chinese migrants says that Singapore is popular with students from China because of its predominant Chinese culture and the use of the language. It is also safe and geographically close to China and schools here charge reasonable fees.
China nationals interviewed said that about 70per cent of peidu (a Mandarin term which literally means ‘accompany study’) mamas are divorced.
These mothers generally fall into three categories:
* Wealthy ones who do not have to work, who live in private apartments in districts nine and 10 and who drive their children - who are usually in the better schools - around.
* Middle-class mothers who are in service jobs like sales or who give Chinese tuition to Singaporean students. They live in HDB flats and their children attend neighbourhood schools.
* Poorer study mamas who work in coffee shops and clean homes, live in HDB flats and whose children are also in neighbourhood schools.
Peidu mamas have made the news in Singapore since 2002, although not always for good reasons. Some have been called ‘husband snatchers’, others have been found registered with matchmaking agencies although they are married, and there are those who work in the sex trade.
The recent Yishun triple deaths were a hot topic among China nationals here and also much discussed on online Chinese forums. Most netizens expressed sadness for the victims and some tried to rally China nationals in Singapore to help the teenage survivor.
A peidu mama who wanted to be known only as Madam Chen said that most of these women lead difficult lives.
‘Our life here is already so tough, this gruesome murder is going to make it worse,’ said Madam Chen, 45. Three years ago, she left her job and husband behind in Tianjin to accompany her son, now 16, here. She cleans people’s homes for a living.
While she used to get about eight jobs a week, the number has dropped to five since the Yishun murders. ‘When Singaporeans see the trouble China nationals get into, they get worried and don’t trust us anymore,’ she said.
Most study mamas are on long-term visit passes. They are not allowed to work in their first year here. Thereafter, they can apply for a work permit, but are banned from working as bar and dance hostesses, masseuses and at food stalls.
Peidu mama Dai Kai, 40, said renting apartments was often a headache for China nationals. ‘Singaporeans say they don’t want trouble and will rent only to Malaysians,’ she added.
Madam Hu Xiu Ling, 36, said her heart sinks whenever she reads negative reports on study mamas.
She hopes the Government will not tighten the rules against them because of the Yishun killings.
‘The last thing we want is more rules, making it harder for us to find jobs,’ she said. ‘We just want a simple life and a good education for our children.’
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