The survey, conducted by the Straits Times, had 284 respondents, 82% of whom said they were happy with how they were treated by their employers. The average pay is $261 a month, below the minimum of $300 to $350 a month relief agencies say is a living wage in Singapore.

Most of the maids come from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India.

Their day usually starts at 6 a.m. and often goes until between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.. Only about half get days off and then, just one day a month.

About three out of 10 say they get shouted at by family members but only one in a hundred say they have been physically abused.

All of the maids surveyed said they get three meals a day.