All About Full-Time Maids

[reddiechan]

micollh:

will we be able to know if my x-helper comes back to spore using her old work permit ? she told me she wants to come back to spore when she left but i check using her pass.. din see any updates .. so not sure if she din come back or she has new pass

Using old work permit for a new job, even with a former employer, is not allowed. You'll have to apply for a new permit with MOM. Things would be easier if she holds a valid passport and the KTKLN card. You can then apply online through MOM and send her an in-principle approval (IPA) for her to exit Indonesia and come to Singapore.

[Isebella]

Does any parent has an Indonesian maid by the name of Dwi Rohatun who is currently working at your place, would appreciate if you could kindly pm me. Thank you very much

[straffan23]

I have been through hell and back with a particular agency, and thought I'd share my story so that others can avoid the same pitfalls. My maid had to return home due to family commitments, so I interviewed a transfer maid.


I have three children under the age of seven (but all in childcare) - so the first criteria was cooking, followed by childcare. According to her profile, she is married Indo mother of two. Worked in Singapore for 2 years. Agency told me she can be ready in 4 days but that turned out to be 6 days. Anyway, she lasted for all but 5 days. This is the one with over 3000 FB friends and would rather get the sack than to limit FB usage. I am eternally grateful for her frankness.

And this is where the nightmare begins. Replacements are \"free\". And by now I have sunked $2,500 with this Agency. No calls, no profiles. And when I was given profiles, none matches my criteria (married with own children with experience).

Day 1: After 2 weeks, I called anonymously and was recommended another transfer maid. Let's call her C. We had a phone interview and I went with a friend to see her the following day.

Day 2: We interviewed her and really like her. Wanted to sign. So told the agent I am existing customer - for replacement. Out came the tale about how she is not available because someone had paid a deposit for her. Showed us the documentation about how she had been assigned to another employer - they were doing a second interview with the MIL later that day. Will let me know the outcome - if they cancel / confirm. And so they decided to go ahead.

Day 4: Called and asked if there are any new candidates. Was told to wait till after the weekend (in case C's employer change their mind again).

Day 7: Called (spoke to another agent which recommended C to me but hadn't been around). Asked why she recommended someone whom wasn't available? In her quick defence, she reiterated that indeed C was available but not now cos she was signed to an Indian employer on 3 days ago (but assured me that she was available until Day 3). At this point I broke down and cried because I was cheated outright.

Day 9: Went to the agency with a friend, and both agents were around. The one that I spoke to on Day 6 kept quiet. The other one spinned a story about how the Chinese employer showed up on Day 3 and so happen the Indian employer showed up and they passed her to each other, blah blah blah.

I did not argue. What was the point? Notice how she was available at the point that I interviewed her? Let's sleep with the enemy since I still have $2,500 with them. Last chance.

No more transfer maid. So was recommended one highly. Was assured that processing takes 2 to 3 weeks only, since she has a ready passport and has done all the necessary procedures. It wasn't until 5 weeks later that I could finally collect her.
Excuses: earthquake, typhoon...
Reasons: Collect a dozen maids before departure to SG. And when they did get a dozen, they had to wait for the \"cheaper\" flights. In the meantime, all maids pays a bording fee at Phils side, and wasn't allowed to go back to their homes.

And I am not alone, neither is this particular agency. A friend has had it worse and gave up on a few agencies because replacements are always second graded.

So, whichever the agency you choose, do your due diligence and check for their background. I didn't. But when I did, I realised that their statistics are very bad - 8 demerit points (which I suspect were from complaints by FDWs), and very high attrition rate.
http://www.mom.gov.sg/eadirectory/Pages/search.aspx

Let's hope most of us won't have to deal with an agency in a very long time!

Good luck!

[miasmummy]

I employed my FDW in 2012, when the policy of off days was not enforced yet. Her monthly salary is $450 with no off days. However in the year that she has been with me she has asked me for off days 5-6 times. I did allow her the off days however did not deduct from her salary.


When I shared about this matter with my friends, I was told that I was being shortchanged as I should have deducted the day’s salary for the off days that she have taken. What is the ruling like now? Frankly I don’t keep track of the policy changes done by MOM.

Pls advice…

[POA Teacher]

miasmummy:

I employed my FDW in 2012, when the policy of off days was not enforced yet. Her monthly salary is $450 with no off days. However in the year that she has been with me she has asked me for off days 5-6 times. I did allow her the off days however did not deduct from her salary.


When I shared about this matter with my friends, I was told that I was being shortchanged as I should have deducted the day's salary for the off days that she have taken. What is the ruling like now? Frankly I don't keep track of the policy changes done by MOM.

Pls advice..

You are not allowed to deduct from her salary.

[chickaboom8888]

Depend on how your contract was structured. Mine is SGD500+SGD50 ( 1 off per mth). If you contract is already embedded all in with no off day( and no specification on off day payment), then I think you should follow your contract even you allow her to hv off day.

Honestly, I think SGD450 pm salary is not too high. If her performance is satisfactory, you just consider it is a bonus for her. Just treat it as an incentive and tell her not to take it granted.

[sunnycheerymummy]

Think we need to be realistic as maids are also human beings and need off days to rest. We do not work 7 days a week all the time. But one rest day per week may not be so easy for some families. I have a Filipino maid who has worked with me for more than 1.5 years. Her contract was signed in June 2012 and she is not entitled to any off day. But I do give her off time to go shopping and rest during weekends when we go out. Usually we bring her out to help to look after my 2-year old boy. Some times we let her stay at home and nothing much to do as we stay in a small HDB flat with only my husband, me and my boy. She can read magazines or books. If she want to go out to buy things, she will ask me first.


But her contact ending soon and she has said she would like to go home. We are thinking of sending my son to a child care centre for playgroup but still need a new maid to help to do housework because both my husband and I work long hours and I'm also pregnant with my second baby. Need help with newborn too.

Can someone please help to point out the MOM website about maid agencies? 2 years ago when I checked, there was a MOM website which was very good and comprehensive and gave info about the maid agencies at a glance -demerit points, success rates in completion of contracts, transfer rates etc. But I cant seem to locate that website now. The current page that I visit doesnt show the info at a glance and need to type in one agency at a time??

[loveangelfaerie]

I never hired maids before, but where do you let them sleep? do you give them 1 bedroom to themself? cannot be what… or share?..

[chixchix]

Hi if you hire Filipina maid then you need to give 1 bedroom to them but for Indonesians they seem flexible,i let mine sleep in the kids room with a mattress…they are not demanding but of course you need to ensure that its a suitable space for any human to sleep in.

[yanyan]

Dear all,


I have a problem…my hb is complaining of missing $…we check our helper’s cupboard before and couldnt find any $… Last nite he clearly check his pocket has $80 but this morning before he left for work, his pocket only left $40…He again search the helper cupboard but cant find any $.

Any idea to check if helper is "helping herself"?