All About Full-Time Maids

[jtoh]

partime-mum:

My brother's maid who has only been with us for 1yr informed that she want to be release and transfer to another employer. She said that her new employer will request for release letter. Can somebody advise me what is this release letter for? When can we pass the maid to the new employer? Is it Ok for us to pass the maid to new employer once she has found a new employer or we need to wait till MOM issue her new WP under new employer name?


The maid said that since we did not buy her air-ticket to fly her back to home next yr, we need to compensate her by cash now. Is it true?

Since her mind is already set on getting new employer, is it better for us to send her back to agent or back to her country?

She's entitled to an air ticket only if she completes her contract with you. As she's only been with your brother for a year, she's not entitled to the air ticket. No need to compensate her.

In the case of transfer maids, the current employer must sign a release letter saying they are agreeable to the transfer. Best for you to wait for official go-ahead from MOM because you don't want her to be working for someone else under your name.

[jtoh]

hquek:

KSmom8:

THANK YOU to all for the very useful and practical advice on phonecards!


Please share what is the usual arrangement for toiletries for the Indo maid. I presume that I should pay for all these during the 2 years contract since she has no off-day and will hardly have any $ for the first 9 months.

My currend filipina maid has offdays so toiletries are supposed to be bought by her on that day. However, she sometimes picks her toiletries when we go to the supermarket and then I will end up paying for it cos I feel bad making a fuss to collect / deduct that sum from her salary. :roll: However, I realise that she don't appreciate these little gestures ... ... She is actually the most rude and unappreciative maid I've ever had.

My maid dun have offdays. I used to buy toiletries for her - if it's my money, she dun get to choose. Upfront I told her already, you want to choose, you pay for it.

And after going through toothpaste etc at super fast rate, she now has to buy her own toiletries. Basically my mum will bring her along on trips to ntuc/market and she can go there and buy. Sometimes they accumulate purchase in the same receipt, but my mum will mark out those my maid bought and i deduct from her salary.

In initial months before she finish the loan, those are book entries - I plus and minus from her 'account' with me. After she finish her loan, either I will deduct from following month's salary, or I will take from her bank account.

In all cases, I retain receipt as proof. Usually I get her to sign that she is the one who incur these purchases also (cover my ass strategy).

Employers are contractually obliged to provide lodging, food and airticket home. I don't think there's anywhere that says we have to got provide shampoo/toiletries anyway. Your current maid is just 'makaning' you - somemore you don't claim back from her. Take note if she uses her stuff super fast, you'll be impressed at the sudden slowdown in usage once she uses her own money. From 1 big tube of toothpaste in 3 weeks (I kid you not), suddenly this same tube lasts her for months on her own money.

I agree. We have to provide lodging and food, but no where does it say we have to supply her toiletries, clothes etc. Employers do this because we want to be nice to them, especially in the initial period where they are not drawing salaries. I really dislike their taking advantage of our generosity and telling us which brand of shampoo and shower gel they want.

[hquek]

one thing I cannot understand is that maids come with small small bags. And I think the expectation has been built in that employers will buy clothes etc for them. Really spoil market.

[shine_fs]

duriz:

hquek:

For me personally, in a fit, I will just send her back home - get her an airticket (go budget if possible, handcarry only). let her pay another 2-3K to come back to work. Chey!

AGREED!
And I have done it before.
I need to add:\" Go online and cancel her WP\"
Don't tell her anything until her ride to the airport is ready.
Then it's confirm she has choice but to balik kampung.

I will do that too...cancel and send her back.

:celebrate:

[shine_fs]

hquek:

one thing I cannot understand is that maids come with small small bags. And I think the expectation has been built in that employers will buy clothes etc for them. Really spoil market.

My previous maid came with one huge baggage + one big bag. The moment you see it, like WOW.....coming for holiday.... :lol:

[hquek]

shine_fs:

hquek:

one thing I cannot understand is that maids come with small small bags. And I think the expectation has been built in that employers will buy clothes etc for them. Really spoil market.

My previous maid came with one huge baggage + one big bag. The moment you see it, like WOW.....coming for holiday.... :lol:

well, compared with coming with one small bag. Few weeks later tell you dun have shorts, dun have undies (yup, I had to buy undies for my ex-maid) - and you (employer) gotta buy for her (no clawback). Tell me what you prefer lor.

[Augmum]

hquek:

My maid dun have offdays. I used to buy toiletries for her - if it's my money, she dun get to choose. Upfront I told her already, you want to choose, you pay for it.

And after going through toothpaste etc at super fast rate, she now has to buy her own toiletries. Basically my mum will bring her along on trips to ntuc/market and she can go there and buy. Sometimes they accumulate purchase in the same receipt, but my mum will mark out those my maid bought and i deduct from her salary.
In all cases, I retain receipt as proof. Usually I get her to sign that she is the one who incur these purchases also (cover my ass strategy).

i did the same for my ex-maid......
when we go shopping together, she would buy her own personal stuff
and she liked to pamper herself like using whitening cream, pimple cream, moisturiser (diff brands for face and body)
off course i deducted fr her salary for all these purchases
and she was rather generous in all these purchases

but she would \"sting\" on stuff such as hygience pads
which resulted in staining here and there...... :x
so i would have to spare her my personal stuff

[jtoh]

Augmum:

hquek:

My maid dun have offdays. I used to buy toiletries for her - if it's my money, she dun get to choose. Upfront I told her already, you want to choose, you pay for it.

And after going through toothpaste etc at super fast rate, she now has to buy her own toiletries. Basically my mum will bring her along on trips to ntuc/market and she can go there and buy. Sometimes they accumulate purchase in the same receipt, but my mum will mark out those my maid bought and i deduct from her salary.
In all cases, I retain receipt as proof. Usually I get her to sign that she is the one who incur these purchases also (cover my ass strategy).

i did the same for my ex-maid......
when we go shopping together, she would buy her own personal stuff
and she liked to pamper herself like using whitening cream, pimple cream, moisturiser (diff brands for face and body)
off course i deducted fr her salary for all these purchases
and she was rather generous in all these purchases

but she would \"sting\" on stuff such as hygience pads
which resulted in staining here and there...... :x
so i would have to spare her my personal stuff

I had a maid who was very vain too. All kinds of cream for everything.

[Augmum]

jtoh:

I had a maid who was very vain too. All kinds of cream for everything.

haha hifi

[gumiho]

shine_fs:

hquek:

one thing I cannot understand is that maids come with small small bags. And I think the expectation has been built in that employers will buy clothes etc for them. Really spoil market.

My previous maid came with one huge baggage + one big bag. The moment you see it, like WOW.....coming for holiday.... :lol:

Mine too.... :celebrate: