All About Full-Time Maids
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I allow my maid to have phone since day 1 but no smart phone. After clearing her loan, she bought a smartphone despite i warned her before. So, i keep her smartphone.
Being caught she was using smartphone again and she claimed that loan fr her friend, I asked her to return to her friend.
She went to buy another smartphone after getting her 2nd month salary and being caught always Facebook at Macdonald , so i keep her second smartphone.
Well, last week being caught she was using our IPAD which can connected to internet anytime —
There is no problem giving her a phone but based on her performance, my 2.5 years old son always sick , twice a month, lousy cooking, lousy housework etc… i don think she deserves to have a smartphone… -
My view in this is that a maid is not someone i can control. I only need her to do a job (already that, she cannot do well!). Her social activities should be her own responsibilities. If she wants a phone she would need money to have one. If she needs to call home it would also be her responsibility to pay for the charges. I did offer my maid the use of our housephone, but she never took up the offer. My maid is a mother of 2 teenage daughter… she wants to be contactable by her family, and equally important - she wants to be contactable by all her friends in SG - a purpose my housephone would not support.
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Notksmum:
hi all,
I am exploring setting a set of guidelines on mobile phone use for my helper. Anyone can share theirs? I listed the following categories in my draft now but still refining.
1. Purchase: To only purchase the make and model decided by us, the employers. [Objective: We do not wish for our helper to carry one with picture/video/smartphone functions to protect our privacy].
My view is that you don't really have the right to tell her what she can & can't buy. Yes, there are privacy concerns but there you just have to trust her.
2. Maintenance & Upkeep: To take care of the mobile phone at all times. Any repair or replacement cost/expense shall be borne entirely by her. To purchase top up cards at her own expense. [Objective: This is set so that it is clear she is not to come to us or ask us to pay for the repair or replacement phone. To send a clear signal that she also has to be clear that she is not to loan money from us to support her phone calls.]
Goes without saying. If she claims she has a true emergency & her card has run out then call her bluff and let her use the home phone
3. Use: To use only once a week and on off days. To surrender the phone to us for safekeeping after each use. [Objective: This is so she will not be distracted when taking care of our baby and to limt her use to once a week to call home is pretty reasonable; this is so that she will not be phone hogging at night making her suffering from sleep deprivation].
I think this is too extreme. She should be allowed to use it during her free time. If you want to take it away from her during the day you can try but she may just buy another phone. My maid has her phone all the time; she does send SMSs during the day but it is not excessive.I was stricter with my previous maids when the children were younger and needed closer supervision but I never held the phone.
Other Grave rules:
1. She is not to possess another mobile phone without our knowledge.
2. She is not to use the mobile phone to engage in any illegal activities or moonlighting.
If she breaks any of the grave rules, she will be sent home.
Any more rules I should add in? Appreciate the advice. -
Can me wicked, heartless, slave-driver or whatever.
But I find that some of you here really spoil your maids.
eg Why do you bring up questions about how much should you pay for the maid’s phone usage? For me the answer is Zero.
The FDW is using the phone for PERSONAL use, it’s not my responsibility to pay for her personal expenses.
My maid uses my land-line to make and receive calls to/ from her friends here. To call back home, she uses a card (which SHE buys)+ my line. When her relatives back home want to contact her, they usually call my hp (and hang up after it rings). Then she calls then. -
hi all,
Thanks for contributing your different views. I have a slightly better idea how to manage this. -
Anna Ng:
Strange, but it seems they are smart with smartphones but are never smart at what they are supposed to do. :gloomy:
There is no problem giving her a phone but based on her performance, my 2.5 years old son always sick , twice a month, lousy cooking, lousy housework etc... i don think she deserves to have a smartphone... -
dasalo:
:hi5: :goodpost:
Strange, but it seems they are smart with smartphones but are never smart at what they are supposed to do. :gloomy:Anna Ng:
There is no problem giving her a phone but based on her performance, my 2.5 years old son always sick , twice a month, lousy cooking, lousy housework etc... i don think she deserves to have a smartphone... -
When I fetch DS from kindergarten, I see maids chatting on the mobile and crossing the roads with the employers' children. At playgrounds, I see maids on phones, not paying any attention to the children that they are supposed to look after. :yikes:
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This is the same for maids bringing kids to the swimming pools.
My mum witnessed a kid smashing into the wall when he lost control while scooting. The kid fell onto the ground, dazed. Maid was talking with her friends.
I had also witnessed a maid with a toddler in the supermarket trolley while she was looking at clothes. The supermarket is in a shopping complex so maid was window shopping after her marketing. Toddler was standing on the small foldable section while the maid was engrossed with putting pieces after pieces of cloths on herself and talking to her friends. It was so dangerous but not sure if the maid ever know it.
Handphones have widen their social circle at the expense of their work performance, -
This phone thing is like an addiction and we are trying ways and means to manage the maids/addicts…they would hide in the toilet, scheme etc…need to connect with the whole world all the time…
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Notksmum:
I feel that ur terms are very reasonable as there are maids that cant control themselves like mine and go on talking for hours. Well, like the saying goes different folks diffferent strokes so adjustments can be made depending on the responsibility and maturity of the maid.hi all,
Thanks for contributing your different views. I have a slightly better idea how to manage this. -
hi all,
Thanks for the views. I may adjust the frequency of use if my maid shows maturity. I know there is no way not to provide a mobile phone because so many other maids out there have one. So what I am trying to do is to mitigate the risk as far as possible.
So far my maid is ok (maybe still under loan period). She does her work fast and takes gd care of DS (so far). One thing for sure is she do need to work for her family back home. Her financial committment is very high. We will see how things go. If really she goes errant, then send her home. Will not send to agent as I dont wanna pass to another employer.
haiz… its all abt LUCK. -
My transfer maid used to have 2 h/ps but not anymore… shes the fun loving type tho she has 3 kids. I had wanted to get her phone back frm the agent but after watching her I think shes better off without one.
If she needs to make any calls home, she will use the public phone. Her calls will be like 3 hours each time so I told her to limit her calls or use her weekly off days to chat s long as she like. So far shes fine without a h/p now. -
shaima111:
I think that a maid should be allowed to have a mobile phone of his own. She is a human and sometimes can have the same issues as we have. She can face an emergency situation like all of us. Cell phone has become a necessity everywhere so why not her?
Yes, that can be agreeable, but only if the state also makes them responsible for themselves, and when they get pregnant or go missing, the employer should not be liable. They should also deport and bear their own costs if they do anything wrong, not the employer. It really depends how the government wants us to treat our maids, as children or adults. Right now, the policies look like they are to be treated like small children with liabilities all on the employers, and then they shall be treated like children.
When they should be treated like adults where they bear their own consequences, then they shall be treated like adults. It is not right to pick and choose what's for them, and what's against them.
That's just my opinion. Employers have been disadvantaged largely in this maid process, and honestly, I think the best is to get rid of FDW once our households don't need them. There's no equality whatsoever, from the FDWs and the employers' points of views.
My FDW used to prostitute and was paid with mobile phones (she had a collection) and she used her phone to solicit more businesses. In the day, she would doze off when doing housework, even when standing and reaching out for a cup. She climbed over the gate so that we do not know. And, I was responsible for sending her off, bore all the costs, and when she went missing at the agent's place (she continued to 'escape' at night to prostitute), I too was responsible even though she was under the agent's supervision.
When I gave her back her passport (treating her with humanity), she deliberately lost it so that she could not be deported, so I had to bring her to the embassy, got these all fixed up and bought her tickets. Now if she were an adult and a proper employee, I did not need to do all those things, right? It was time consuming and painful. Problem is employers are tasked to bear all their liabilities and that's why some employers go to the extreme with control. Takes 2 hands to clap.
If it were my maid, I would not allow her to have a handphone, but she would be allowed to use the home phone once a week to call home, and the number can be given to her family in case of emergencies. Handphones are not necessities, and there are alternatives. Don't open a floodgate. -
2ppaamm:
Yes, that can be agreeable, but only if the state also makes them responsible for themselves, and when they get pregnant or go missing, the employer should not be liable. They should also deport and bear their own costs if they do anything wrong, not the employer. It really depends how the government wants us to treat our maids, as children or adults. Right now, the policies look like they are to be treated like small children with liabilities all on the employers, and then they shall be treated like children...
Ditto to all that! The unfortunate thing about MOM's policies on FDW is that in trying to protect FDWs from employer abuse, they create a situation where employers have to protect themselves against possible bad behavior from maids.
Making employers fully responsible for any misconduct by maids will only result in employers removing all privileges from maids - mobile phones, weekends off, being locked in homes, etc. This in turn makes maids unhappy and that explains the high turn-over rate for maids in many households.
A much fairer policy is to:
1) Remove all levies on maids! Why on earth is the government making money from the hiring of maids???
2) Increase the base salary of all maids. Whatever employers pay to the government as levies should be given back to the maids.
3) Enforce a mandatory day off per week. Set a minimum compensation rate for maids if employers wishes to \"pay off\" maids in lieu of this mandatory day off.
4) Waive all responsibilities that employers have for maids that run off, or get pregnant. In a company, if an employee goes AWOL, or gets pregnant, the employer is not held responsible. So why should employers of FDWs be different? The current policy is subject to too much abuse by maids, such that employers become overbearing in their treatment of maids. -
ChiefKiasu:
But that source of income is too precious leh... hahaha...2ppaamm:
Yes, that can be agreeable, but only if the state also makes them responsible for themselves, and when they get pregnant or go missing, the employer should not be liable. They should also deport and bear their own costs if they do anything wrong, not the employer. It really depends how the government wants us to treat our maids, as children or adults. Right now, the policies look like they are to be treated like small children with liabilities all on the employers, and then they shall be treated like children...
Ditto to all that! The unfortunate thing about MOM's policies on FDW is that in trying to protect FDWs from employer abuse, they create a situation where employers have to protect themselves against possible bad behavior from maids.
Making employers fully responsible for any misconduct by maids will only result in employers removing all privileges from maids - mobile phones, weekends off, being locked in homes, etc. This in turn makes maids unhappy and that explains the high turn-over rate for maids in many households.
A much fairer policy is to:
1) Remove all levies on maids! Why on earth is the government making money from the hiring of maids???
2) Increase the base salary of all maids. Whatever employers pay to the government as levies should be given back to the maids.
3) Enforce a mandatory day off per week. Set a minimum compensation rate for maids if employers wishes to \"pay off\" maids in lieu of this mandatory day off.
4) Waive all responsibilities that employers have for maids that run off, or get pregnant. In a company, if an employee goes AWOL, or gets pregnant, the employer is not held responsible. So why should employers of FDWs be different? The current policy is subject to too much abuse by maids, such that employers become overbearing in their treatment of maids.
But, I agree with your 4 points, let's all be adults, then we can stop pointing fingers at one another. And who wants to care about the maid's sex life or drive, or whether she gets pregnant, as long as we are not liable, and they do not pass their STD to our children. Actually, about the levvy, since the govt take the levvy, how come the govt don't need to be responsible when the maid runs away... hehehe.... :siam: -
wow, I din know my post would create such furore. Anyway this is my current view on the FDW problem.
1. Remove the Levy and Pay Maid Higher Salary. Remove Transfer Maid Scheme by Agency. Follow the HK method. This keeps the maid happy and also maid will be kept in check and not “job hop” when not happy. A proper after service level agreement between agency and employer should be drawn up to address some areas (eg: maid run away, pregnant etc) so that the agency bear some responsibilty even after we bring the maid home.
2. Co Share the Responsibility if FDW does illegal activities, in the event any cost is incurred, the cost should be borne by both agency and employer on a fair basis. This keeps the agency in check as well to ensure that they bring in good maids with good conduct.[I dont think a full waiver will be possible so co sharing costs might be an option.]
3. On the prevention side, mandatory ruling shld be that agency must bear all costs for counselling a maid that they bring in.
4. Also to address the govt’s or foreign govt’s concern on possible abuse, increase the penalties for abuse under the law. Impose higher jail term and higher fines etc as a deterrent measure.
Long term view, I suggest that we build integrated day care centres, similar to Japan where they may have senior citizen care and childcare near each other and activities to facilitate intergenerational bonding can occur. In addition, it will be good if medical facilities are also within this integrated care centres so to cater to sandwiched class citizens who may have elderly parents and young children in the care of professionals while we work. Just an idea to rely on less on maid and be more self reliant on ourselves. Create more jobs for singaporeans and also ease worries on many minds.
That’s all I could think of as of now. -
Notksmum:
About maid agencies: they bear no responsibility for errant maids, runaways etc.wow, I din know my post would create such furore. Anyway this is my current view on the FDW problem.
1. Remove the Levy and Pay Maid Higher Salary. Remove Transfer Maid Scheme by Agency. Follow the HK method. This keeps the maid happy and also maid will be kept in check and not \"job hop\" when not happy. A proper after service level agreement between agency and employer should be drawn up to address some areas (eg: maid run away, pregnant etc) so that the agency bear some responsibilty even after we bring the maid home.
2. Co Share the Responsibility if FDW does illegal activities, in the event any cost is incurred, the cost should be borne by both agency and employer on a fair basis. This keeps the agency in check as well to ensure that they bring in good maids with good conduct.[I dont think a full waiver will be possible so co sharing costs might be an option.]
3. On the prevention side, mandatory ruling shld be that agency must bear all costs for counselling a maid that they bring in.
Let me tell you about my experience with a runaway maid (not mine or any friend's). My FDW and I sometimes come across runaways FDWs, and being kaypohs, we talk to them.
One day my maid told me about a runaway FDW hanging around downstairs with a couple of guys (the same guys were also with another runaway a few months before that- she had love bites). So I asked her to go ask the maid the name of her agency, and branch. I rang up the agent to inform them. Guess what, they didn't bother to come get her. Days later, she was still downstairs with the guys. Btw, the agency has a branch in the shopping centre just a couple of minutes away from here. -
POA Teacher:
I sent my FDW who was dangerous to my family to the maid agency because she lost her passport and I had no time to help her renew it. I asked the maid agency to help, they won't. I found out later that she had been going out every night and making money prostituting herself. Of course, the agencies do not care, they are not liable. Besides, they can bring the maid back again and again (my agency did) no matter how bad the maid was, as long as they can 'sell' them to another employer.
About maid agencies: they bear no responsibility for errant maids, runaways etc.Notksmum:
wow, I din know my post would create such furore. Anyway this is my current view on the FDW problem.
1. Remove the Levy and Pay Maid Higher Salary. Remove Transfer Maid Scheme by Agency. Follow the HK method. This keeps the maid happy and also maid will be kept in check and not \"job hop\" when not happy. A proper after service level agreement between agency and employer should be drawn up to address some areas (eg: maid run away, pregnant etc) so that the agency bear some responsibilty even after we bring the maid home.
2. Co Share the Responsibility if FDW does illegal activities, in the event any cost is incurred, the cost should be borne by both agency and employer on a fair basis. This keeps the agency in check as well to ensure that they bring in good maids with good conduct.[I dont think a full waiver will be possible so co sharing costs might be an option.]
3. On the prevention side, mandatory ruling shld be that agency must bear all costs for counselling a maid that they bring in.
Let me tell you about my experience with a runaway maid (not mine or any friend's). My FDW and I sometimes come across runaways FDWs, and being kaypohs, we talk to them.
One day my maid told me about a runaway FDW hanging around downstairs with a couple of guys (the same guys were also with another runaway a few months before that- she had love bites). So I asked her to go ask the maid the name of her agency, and branch. I rang up the agent to inform them. Guess what, they didn't bother to come get her. Days later, she was still downstairs with the guys. Btw, the agency has a branch in the shopping centre just a couple of minutes away from here.
They are very irresponsible and only care about money. Be very careful.
In Singapore, when you get a maid, you are liable to the government, at the mercy of MOM, HOME, the maid and the agency. Bo hua. Better to pick up the broom and sweep. hehehe... -
shaima111:
I think that a maid should be allowed to have a mobile phone of his own. She is a human and sometimes can have the same issues as we have. She can face an emergency situation like all of us. Cell phone has become a necessity everywhere so why not her?
Yup. why not her? My maids hp was confiscated by the agent when I took her. I guess not many agents would confiscate the maids hp, obviously theres a good reason for that and now I do know why. Her family knows my hp and house number and I dnt stop her frm using the public phone if she needs to. Now she tells me its cheaper to use the public phone and does not want to buy a hp and even if she does she will let me hold it for her.
I guess the agent knows she would not have lasted 4 months with me if she kept her phone.
In my opinion , having or not having a phone has nothing to do with being human or not, if the phone is a distraction and the the maid cant control herself then some action should be taken