All About Full-Time Maids

[hquek]

janet_lee88:

Hi,

Anyone read in ST forum yesterday, something who mentioned that Singaporeans can well afford to pay Filipino maids US$400 ??? :x I strongly disagree. They are not worth the amt.

That writer can go ahead and pay that amount - I recall it's a male. I'm sure he didn't have to train the maid to do housework etc.

I honestly think that employers won't mind paying that price IF they come to SG KNOWING

1. how to understand English instructions and carrying them out;
2. how to clean the floor/house such that it's CLEAN;
3. how to be hygienic without resorting to a mini waterfall each time something needs to be washed;
4. how to use electrical appliances in a house;
5. how to care for a child (still remember the first time my ex-maid cleaned my newborn son's bottom - by pinching his balls and lifting it up; she had no experience caring for baby, and I made sure she didn't have to use my kid as learning object);
6. how to cook (all my maids had no clue how to cook - first one had problems even with maggi mee).

[raynreg]

Just a quick check…with all the news about minimum salary for phili helper. Does it affect those who are aready working in SG till end of contract (ie. 2 yrs) but would like to go back home for a break and coming back to SG again for another term with the same employer?


Or are these helpers subject to their government’s restriction once they are back to phili.

[hquek]

raynreg:

Just a quick check...with all the news about minimum salary for phili helper. Does it affect those who are aready working in SG till end of contract (ie. 2 yrs) but would like to go back home for a break and coming back to SG again for another term with the same employer?


Or are these helpers subject to their government's restriction once they are back to phili.

I think this min wage thing was already in force for some time and maids would have to produce an agreement signed by their employer that they are being paid that amount. But I heard my friend's case is that she signed another agreement in private with maid to state the actual salary paid.

Once they are back in their country, there are many things their govt can do to stop them from exiting the country. So all paperwork must be in order - even if they are extending their present contract.

Better to check with the agency.

[raynreg]

I’ve read about the back to back arrangement part and also the risk should the phili helper turn against the employer for such arrangment. Anyone knows of any alternative arrangement which is technical "legal" to circumvent it.


Or are current practices still applicable since the rules are aready there in the first instance. If so, then seems like everything is staus quo. Only thing is harder for the helper to get out of phili w/o the minimum salary letter?

In such situation, demand would turn to Indo helpers which may in turn drive up salary since there isnt much alternative out there.

[hquek]

raynreg:

In such situation, demand would turn to Indo helpers which may in turn drive up salary since there isnt much alternative out there.

Already I think people are turning elsewhere (not just Indo) in view of negative publicity, red tape. When i sent my indo maid back for home leave, it was so easy. I couldn't believe the rigmarole my friend had to go through (plus additional $$) for her maid to go back home on holiday.

Anyway, I asked my regular agent and she recommended me a myanmar maid. I asked for indo, but apparently she didn't have any good ones to recommend to me. Sigh....

[hquek]

raynreg:

I've read about the back to back arrangement part and also the risk should the phili helper turn against the employer for such arrangment. Anyone knows of any alternative arrangement which is technical \"legal\" to circumvent it.

I heard 2 cases already - in both, the employer and maid signed a 2nd agreement (later) for the actual figure. The USD400 one was produced for their govt to view. Both maids managed to return from their homeleave.

[mrswongtuition]

hquek:

janet_lee88:

Hi,

Anyone read in ST forum yesterday, something who mentioned that Singaporeans can well afford to pay Filipino maids US$400 ??? :x I strongly disagree. They are not worth the amt.

That writer can go ahead and pay that amount - I recall it's a male. I'm sure he didn't have to train the maid to do housework etc.

I honestly think that employers won't mind paying that price IF they come to SG KNOWING

1. how to understand English instructions and carrying them out;
2. how to clean the floor/house such that it's CLEAN;
3. how to be hygienic without resorting to a mini waterfall each time something needs to be washed;
4. how to use electrical appliances in a house;
5. how to care for a child (still remember the first time my ex-maid cleaned my newborn son's bottom - by pinching his balls and lifting it up; she had no experience caring for baby, and I made sure she didn't have to use my kid as learning object);
6. how to cook (all my maids had no clue how to cook - first one had problems even with maggi mee).

I agree. I don't mind paying more if they come prepared (at most is brief them on our family's schedule and preferred way of doing things).

Btw, my mum ever hired a trainee nurse (did not have money to finish up studies) and she was very good at baby care (but did not know how to do housework very well). We had her for 5 years during my infant to toddler years.

[janet88]

Can’t expect maids to be good in everything…but one consolation is if they are good in something at least.


I had to teach my maids how to fry egg and cook noodles…the MOST basic and yet can’t do. The other thing is to use my kitchen cloth for EVERYTHING.

If people who write to ST forums are the ones who trains the maids at home, I don’t think that person will agree that maids deserve US$400.

[janet88]

flornze:

Remember dun use Maid Management, maid lousy..poor service especially when comes to refund of your own money. Take months to claim!!Bad experience!! :x :stupid:

Nation Maids staff equally rude. I walked in once to enquire about getting a maid. A person just put a piece of paper with info on their 'packages' in front of me, without even looking at me and continued doing her filing :x POOR service. Can't imagine what it would be like if I had taken a maid from them and need to get a replacement.

[ANON001]

Anyone knws what’s the mkt salary for a fresh filipino maid? i heard frm my sis that her fren getting a fresh filipino maid but got send by at customs after being checked thro her docs that the salary she will be paid is S$350…