All About Full-Time Maids

[hquek]

Elysdeon:

yup, their employer actually called us to discuss. We want her back cos went she was around she was pretty good, hardworking, can look after infants etc. They did not want to send her back to the agency. They are willing to let her go provided we paid them what she paid the agency (ie: the 7-8 month loan). Those under the table deal.


Like that the maid would end up having no salary for like 1 year and they will have got like free labour for the past few months since we pay them.

ok, financials I a bit blur now. If they paid something on her behalf in advance and she has not earned that salary, then I think she should make good if she want a transfer. If they want to profit from this transaction, then they very terrible.

But remember that they had to pay the maid agency agency fees. To have to suddenly do without the maid after 7 months is a bit tragic (ie go back to agency and repay the fees). I can understand their predicament also.

Tell them to send her back lor. You can easily buy her an airticket and arrange for work permit. They on the other hand will have to pay for additional airticket.

[eyktay]

But usually loan is cos they’ve paid maid’s family a sum of $.

i.e. the $ is then transferred to agency, then to us when we take the maid.

But I still do not understand why they dun wanna send her back to agency, seems not right.

Your maid is also binded by contract now with that employer.
Are u processing all these by yourself if you want her?
If via agency, ask agency for advise.
Or maybe call MOM for advise, dun get urself into any legal issues.

[Si Si]

blurqueen:

Peeping out of my window, what do I see? A group of about 6 Phil maids having a picnic by the barbeque pit! Gosh, are they lucky or what? Every morning, they have their morning chats with breakfast there. Now ... picnic lunch? Where do we draw the line? Then again, what rights do we have since they're not under our employment? We can only hope our maids don't get jealous and start acting up because they're not seated there with the \"gang\".

My friend who is a first time maid employer had called me up to ask what are the typical expectations of maids before they deem over the board. The estate she lives in happen to have many expats. She said by middle of afternoon, all Phil maids would gather around the common area and hv picnic, hair down, food ready for sharing...(for her case is when she is not at home, the maid will join them).

I can't help but think that where we stay and the design of our house or apt has some effect of the social life of maids. Example, if our kitchen is facing our neighbour's likely, they will befriend their maids; walls too low or see thru fence also has some effect. Am sure we always see some maids strolling their care stop by another neighbours hse and chat, while the other maids 'pretend' to water the plants forever.

[Elysdeon]

eyktay:

But usually loan is cos they've paid maid's family a sum of $.

i.e. the $ is then transferred to agency, then to us when we take the maid.

But I still do not understand why they dun wanna send her back to agency, seems not right.

Your maid is also binded by contract now with that employer.
Are u processing all these by yourself if you want her?
If via agency, ask agency for advise.
Or maybe call MOM for advise, dun get urself into any legal issues.

Think the sum is the fees paid to the agency which the maid owes the agency for arranging.

We will check with a maid agent who we know and see what he advises. If not like what hquek said, if they send her back can just buy her a ticket and apply a WP for her to come back again.

[Elysdeon]

Si Si:

blurqueen:

Peeping out of my window, what do I see? A group of about 6 Phil maids having a picnic by the barbeque pit! Gosh, are they lucky or what? Every morning, they have their morning chats with breakfast there. Now ... picnic lunch? Where do we draw the line? Then again, what rights do we have since they're not under our employment? We can only hope our maids don't get jealous and start acting up because they're not seated there with the \"gang\".

My friend who is a first time maid employer had called me up to ask what are the typical expectations of maids before they deem over the board. The estate she lives in happen to have many expats. She said by middle of afternoon, all Phil maids would gather around the common area and hv picnic, hair down, food ready for sharing...(for her case is when she is not at home, the maid will join them).

I can't help but think that where we stay and the design of our house or apt has some effect of the social life of maids. Example, if our kitchen is facing our neighbour's likely, they will befriend their maids; walls too low or see thru fence also has some effect. Am sure we always see some maids strolling their care stop by another neighbours hse and chat, while the other maids 'pretend' to water the plants forever.

In my estate also quite common. Alot of maids walk the dogs and chit chat on their phones or with other maids who are also walking their dogs etc... But generally expat bosses give their maids alot of freedom i think.

[minnie2004]

eyktay:

But I still do not understand why they dun wanna send her back to agency, seems not right.

I think her employer is just not happy that she's being \"headhunted\" and wants her or the future employer to pay a price. To be fair, they do have the right to be angry as they have to go thru the trouble of training and getting used to another maid etc. However, it is still not to their best interest to send her back home.

[hquek]

my maid is good friend with one maid downstairs. they chit chat in the yard (one upstairs, another downstairs). from time to time, can see my maid peering out to the downstairs yard.

[minnie2004]

hquek:

If they send her back, just buy her another airticket to come back to SG, I understand it's not difficult to process a work permit.

Is it that easy to get them out? Is it the same case for 1st timers? I'm thinking of hiring a friend of my current maid. She's working in Philippines now. I talked to my agent and the total cost (incl airtix, insurance) is close to $1900. Is that reasonable for a direct hire? Although the maid is going to pay most of it back to me, it still sounds a lot. Or should I try to do it myself?

[Si Si]

Elysdeon:

I have a maid query.


My prev maid is quite good but unfortunately went back after 2 years. Now we have a new maid and she decided to come back to SG to work. She is now working for another employer in SG.

We intend to get a 2nd maid and want her to come back which she is willing. Unfortunately her current employer is not agreeable to the transfer and does not want to send her back to the agency. Instead they are considering sending her back home.

What can we do? or what can my ex-maid do? Run off to embassy?

I wonder did your ex-maid's employer felt a sense of betrayal?? Therefore rather send maid home than transfer. Putting ourselves in her shoes, after all the training etc and now she said she want to go to work elsewhere? Also, it is a losing end for the ex-employer as she has to bear the levy+agent fees+maidless until her current maid's work permit is properly transferred. Another reason is she probably \"boey song\" (in hokkien).

My ex-maid recently called me and wanted to work for me again (1st contract was 4 yrs w me followed by another 4 yrs other households). I decided against it. Start afresh esp. if we are not desperate. They will have higher expectations when they come back. and who knows she will not jump ship if she sees another household is \"better\". If she could do what she did to the previous employer, likelihood she has no qualms to do it again. Also, she knows that you have gone all out for her and she may Lord over your existing maid, as she sees herself as the more experienced and favored one. Watch out for the invisible \"bullies\" esp when you have 2 maids. Check out the tell tale signs. I heard it all. All the best!

[hquek]

minnie2004:

hquek:

If they send her back, just buy her another airticket to come back to SG, I understand it's not difficult to process a work permit.

Is it that easy to get them out? Is it the same case for 1st timers? I'm thinking of hiring a friend of my current maid. She's working in Philippines now. I talked to my agent and the total cost (incl airtix, insurance) is close to $1900. Is that reasonable for a direct hire? Although the maid is going to pay most of it back to me, it still sounds a lot. Or should I try to do it myself?

My hearsay is that their govt knows how to squeeze from their own pp? And that may account for the high cost. If you hire from an agent, I think the loan will be much higher for the maid to bear.

And if you choose to diy, honestly, there may be hidden stuff that you don't know about - paperwork etc. If you are keen, call up the embassy to check.

Sorry, no first hand experience here.