All About Full-Time Maids
-
eyktay:
Think the sum is the fees paid to the agency which the maid owes the agency for arranging.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.
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. -
Si Si:
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.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. -
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. -
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.
-
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? -
Elysdeon:
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).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?
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!
-
minnie2004:
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.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?
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. -
minnie2004:
I just need to give my 2-cents worth here as I promised myself never to import maids directly again.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 ex-Myanmar maid was imported directly as she is the cousin of my in-law's maid. Her English was so poor until if she does not pass her 3rd attempt of the entry test, she has to be sent home. She just made it. That followed by language barrier and I wished I had an agent to interpret what she has been trying to say all these 2 years, so for the 2 years, it was dictionary/drawings/and hand gesture/sign language :stupid:
With a good agent at least can specify our needs bcos direct import is...you have to accept her as she is. When mine came, not knowing that she basically needs to feed her whole village and thus always need to advance $$$. after a while, very sian. When they black face, you dont have an agent to give them prep talk (more of tough love). Also, my ex-maid basically paid off her loan in 3 months and they just don't know how privilege this means. Before she left, she asked if I am interested in employing her sister..huh?!? :!: .of course no thanks. One journey with her is enough for a long while.
-
[/quote]
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).
[/quote]
ya lor i also think they are buay song cos like that we cause them to have more work to do. But if they agree to the transfer they won’t lose out on agent fees ma cos the agency will provide them with another maid once their present one has been transferred right.
They are from Hong Kong working here. -
Hi Si Si,
The one we plan to hire direct used to work with my current maid in the same house in Manila. They were also neighbours back home. So she kind of knows how she is like. Yes there’s always a risk if the direct hire is no good and we won’t be able to ask the agent to change for another one. However, if we ask the agent to source one for us, we basically have no background info about that person at all, and she doesn’t know what it’s like to work for us either, which is also risky.
Just wondering if $1900 (which incl $200+ insurance) is fair for direct hire. What’s the market price?
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login