All About Full-Time Maids

[hquek]

Si Si:

I must say I was at the verge of sacking my maid over some matters until I stumble across this forum and realised that I should give her another chance if she is willing to repent. After all the training I have put in for her, the thought of retraining another one is :?: :x


Jennyknots, thanks for your input.

May I ask if anyone could share if they give an increment to the maid after one year of service? If so, how much? How about renewal maids, how much increment of salary do we give? Really need advice for this. Thanks heaps.

hi si si,

I only gave my maid increments upon fulfilment of contract (ie every 2 years). And it all depends on scope of work (am I giving her more responsibilities?) and also her work quality. Also, in some maid's case, I think also what their expectations are...I understand some will hint hint that this is the amount they want (then have to see if they are worth that $).

Yup, generally if maids show good attitude/willingness to learn, still can retain. If she black face and refused to take instructions, then it's time to say bye....

[Hiccup]

[quote] Posted: 02 Mar 2010 07:19 Post subject:


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Hi Hiccup,

I got my maid from hougang green branch ? What about yours ? Yes all their maids are lousy and not trained at all. My filipino maid told me she is a princess maid and don't know how to do housework. Always eat before us and never have the courtesy to inform us before she starts eating. She never have to cook nor take care of my 3 boys except helping with the housework at my dad's house. My dad is already 70yrs old and that's why i've to get a maid to help up with his housework. He'll cook and take care of my 3 boys. Weekends, my maid will do housework at my home. She complaint too tired. Real angry with her.
Understand from my eldest boy who is 10yrs old told me that my maid alway sit at my dad's place reading newspaper ! [/quote]Hi Mummyif3, I got all my 3 Indonesian maids from Hougang Green Branch too. When the maid ran back to the agency, I asked them to check her belongings. Took them at least a week to come back to me after repeated reminders. As expected, said maid claimed did not take my stuff. Where then did my new luggage bag and backpack mysteriously disappeared to? When I took this transfer maid (the one and only transfer maid that I have taken), I got to speak to the former employer who painted a very good picture of her as being clean and hardworking. What made us take her was because she agreed to work in a 3-storey house, while the other maids who were waiting for transfer, turned us down. Obviously, these maids were looking for a cushy job and choosing employers. This maid even shouted at us and at the agent in front of a few customers. If not for the upfront loan that I have paid, I would have sent her packing to Indonesia.

[blurqueen]

peapot:

Yes bio-data are so fake.

My maid's bio-data was so fake too that my jaw dropped when she confessed to me.

After working some time with us, I asked her for her real age, so instead of 23, we just celebrated her 17th birthday. Instead of having 5 years of working experience, she had merely 5 months. And i found out previous employer (she's a transfer) found out she was only 16 and made a fuss with the agent. The agent (Budget ****) in turn scolded her for telling the ex-employer the truth :shock: Agent then told us that she was a 'return' because she has a poor command of English (which is so true to some extend).

[Andaiz]

lovekidsverymuch:

:!: :!: :!: she is too underage to work in singapore mah

:?: :?: indeed...isn't she just a child? But you know...that's what people generally warn of Indon maids, they go by a different traditional calendar that is about 3-5 years \"above\" the solar (Gregorian) calendar we use...

But I'm shocked that the agent palms her off to another unsuspecting employer and even scolded her. Where got integrity?! :roll:

[Andaiz]

On a related topic, anyone has any comments on the FTDH (full-time domestic helpers) being "innkeepers" for rich employers who own properties near Mt E and sub-letting their houses as "hostels" to people seeking medical attention, on shopping trips or just mere visitors.


I’m :!: -ed that such activities exist and wonder what insurance these maids have whilst dispensing their concierge and/or laundry services?! Not to say it’s illegal for domestic helpers to work anywhere else but the employers’ residence (i.e., house they live in!)

[tamarind]

Dear all,

Please read this article in the New Paper.
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-paper-give-us-grief-and-we-will.html

I advise all employers who encountered bad maids to feedback to MOM to blacklist the maid. According to the news article, MOM said they will review all cases.

Please do something to help stop the recycling of bad maids !

[blurqueen]

Andaiz:

indeed...isn't she just a child? But you know...that's what people generally warn of Indon maids, they go by a different traditional calendar that is about 3-5 years \"above\" the solar (Gregorian) calendar we use...

Well, I do know that Indon maids are not the only one that's coming in \"underage\". My SIL's Myanmmar also looks barely 18 although she totally denies being under 23.

My 1st Indo maid also came to us at 17 and was with us for 6 years then went back to marry. The good thing about being younger is, they're excellent at learning and being younger, they're more timid and less likely to be up to nonsense outside the home. The only thing is, I've to look out for her like a little sister and teach her things in and out of domestics.

These innocent 17yos indos are far cry from the overly exposed 23yos phils. I had reported my last Phil maid to police for child abuse but she had sms her friends still in Sgp that she can't come back because I had accused her of theft which she had denied of. She too asked her friends to pester my current maid for her contact. My new poor maid is terrified of the Phils.

I'm happy with this maid and wouldn't want it any other way. Another good thing is I know she'll work at least another 6 years for us before she feels the need to marry and leave us.

[tamarind]

How to check employment history

Many employers have been asking me how to check employment history of maid. I have created a new page in my blog explaining the instructions in detail :

http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-check-employment-history.html

Please check the employment history before you pay the maid agency fee ! Also, never employ a maid who has changed many employers in one year.

[hquek]

hi Tamarind,


Thanks very very much for creating and updating such information. It’s really a godsend for would-be employers. Saw your interview separately and I do disagree with those who say it’s not right…there’s so much nonsense that employers have to put up with, I think it’s good to share experience that we otherwise would have to leave in our personal memories.

[tamarind]

hquek:

hi Tamarind,


Thanks very very much for creating and updating such information. It's really a godsend for would-be employers. Saw your interview separately and I do disagree with those who say it's not right...there's so much nonsense that employers have to put up with, I think it's good to share experience that we otherwise would have to leave in our personal memories.

hquek,
You are welcome !

MOM does not seem to know about the $3000 maid loan. Even if employers know that the maid is dangerous, if the maid loan has not been recovered, they will not blacklist the maid. They still have to let the maid transfer to another unlucky employer in order to get back their maid loan. This is the reason why there are so many bad maids in Singapore. Something has to be done about the maid loan, otherwise the situation is going to get worst. Many new maids already know that they can come here, work for a few days, then ask to go home ! It's like a free and easy holiday for them.