All About Full-Time Maids

[chatelaine]

Hi mummymaid


Sad to hear what you have encountered. We can only hope maid agency to be truthful to us.

Usually those Indo maid age reported will be older as it seemed to be.

My ex-maid is very afraid of her agency. When we sent her back to the agency for questioning, she answered in a soft tone kind of shivering.

Before that, my hubby questioned her. She wasn't even scared nor cried. Even made request to call home to check with her dad whether to go back home or continue working in SG.

We never give her the chance to call home, afraid she will be up to some mischief.

[KSmom8]

mummymaid:

She wants to feel she's in command in my house but I refused. I got real mad one day n told her, 'bear in mind, I'm yr employer and I pay u yr salary'. She repeatedly disregards my instructions = no respect yet complained I dont respect her


Hubby said I was harshed I no choice what!

I also tahan my previous Fili maid for over 2 years...when I became a SAHM. I also told her that \"I am your employer and I pay your salary so I have a right to tell you how to do it right in my home.\" Obviously she disregards my instructions, has no respect for me, has no basic manners (she never says good morning or good night or sorry).. her only saving grace is that she is a fast worker, so both my hubby and mum liked her. Unfortunately, they didn't see the sloppy work and didn't have to bear with the attitude. My hubby also said that I was harsh with her and my mum also thought that I should have chosen my words more carefully. :shock:
When she was near to completing 4 years working for us, her black face showed more frequently and even my mum and hubby saw it. Finally when I insisted that I did not want to keep her anymore, no one tried to dissuade me.
The day that my maid left, my elder child was so happy and my younger child did not even kick up a fuss. After my new Indo maid arrived, my mum actually remarked that the kids were happier, never mind that the new maid was slower.
My regrets were not sacking my previous maid earlier and actually agreeing to a transfer for her to another employer. However, I am glad that in her last weeks with me, I made it clear that she had to do her job well and show good attitude, otherwise I would not hesitate to send her back to the Phillipines. I told her that under the law, I am only obliged to buy an airticket home for her and I need not agree to a transfer. I also highlighted that an airticket to the Philippines is so cheap and not necessary more expensive than the levy that I would have to pay whilst she is looking for a new employer at the agency.

So to cut a long story short, I think that you should give send your maid back to her home country. It's simpler easier and less stressful. Since she is with you for over 1 year, her loan should be paid and I think that you are under no obligation to return her to the agent, but check your agency agreement to be sure. Why agree to her request for a transfer? You will be paying her levy whilst she is looking for an employer at the agency! An airticket is so cheap nowadays... as for excess luggage I don't think it is the employer's oblligation to pay... afterall she came to Singapore with a small bag didn't she?

[janet88]

KSmom8:

mummymaid:

She wants to feel she's in command in my house but I refused. I got real mad one day n told her, 'bear in mind, I'm yr employer and I pay u yr salary'. She repeatedly disregards my instructions = no respect yet complained I dont respect her

I also tahan my previous Fili maid for over 2 years...when I became a SAHM. When she was near to completing 4 years working for us, her black face showed more frequently and even my mum and hubby saw it. Finally when I insisted that I did not want to keep her anymore, no one tried to dissuade me.

So to cut a long story short, I think that you should give send your maid back to her home country. It's simpler easier and less stressful. Since she is with you for over 1 year, her loan should be paid and I think that you are under no obligation to return her to the agent, but check your agency agreement to be sure. Why agree to her request for a transfer? You will be paying her levy whilst she is looking for an employer at the agency! An airticket is so cheap nowadays... as for excess luggage I don't think it is the employer's oblligation to pay... afterall she came to Singapore with a small bag didn't she?

I agree with you...maids think they can ask for transfer when they are not happy...Filipinos are damn good at this. If the maid has no outstanding debt, has a bad working attitude, it's best to send her back home. There is no reason to agree to her request for a transfer.
She is sitting comfortably at the agency searching for her 'dream' employer while we employers are paying levy for her NOT doing anything. Send her home.

Indon maids may be slower but that's better than having to put up with a sickening black face...we don't owe these maids anything.

[marmum]

Dear Mums with indo maids. Pls advise me if its better to employ married or single? What about the age, should I get young ones or older ones? I have 2 kids 4 & 6 and day time they go to in-laws place. I have a few interested candidates on hand. The 23 & 24 ones are either single or marrried and have 2 yrs exp in Jakarta and one 30 who hv exp looking after elderly in Arab for 2 yrs (she is also married with 2 grown up kids like 8,11 & 12 yrs old). Pls advise me which I should select.


MTIA, marmum

[janet88]

marmum:

Dear Mums with indo maids. Pls advise me if its better to employ married or single? What about the age, should I get young ones or older ones? I have 2 kids 4 & 6 and day time they go to in-laws place. I have a few interested candidates on hand. The 23 & 24 ones are either single or marrried and have 2 yrs exp in Jakarta and one 30 who hv exp looking after elderly in Arab for 2 yrs (she is also married with 2 grown up kids like 8,11 & 12 yrs old). Pls advise me which I should select.


MTIA, marmum

I would have a problem choosing one too...but ultimately it still boils down to luck. A single or married one would have no problems adjusting to young kids depending on whether they want to (or not).
However, you mentioned a maid who has exp in Arab with grown up kids and ever looked after elderly...that's not a bad choice either. It's best to shortlist first...easier to make a decision from there. Sorry if what I mentioned is not of much help.

[The Little Cheng Mommy]

Just to share. Let me compare my experience with Indonesia and Philippine maid.


My first helper (was a fresh maid who finished her 2 year contract with us) is from Philippine. She is very street smart, over friendly (always make friends and exchange hp numbers on streets), always chatting on the handphone (day and night, even with us around at home), always find excuses to go out. She has 2 children but also because of that, she’s always worried/cried about home and her children and is temperamental. Always show me black face too. But she was very good at handling my son (singing, playing, making him sleep etc) and WHEN she’s IN THE MOOD to do housework, she could really do a great job and make the house very clean and tidy. But due to her behavior, we decided to change maid.

My new Indonesia helper just started with us for one month +. So far, the greatest difficulty is language barrier. When she just came, she couldn’t understand even simple English words like wet/mob/sweep etc. (now still not much improvement in language wise). And my 2 yr old son doesn’t like her as he can’t communicate with her. She is married but has no children. So far I didn’t hear her cry when she calls home weekly. She does not have much initiative and is more lazy. Even though the maid agency says she had experienced working in Middle East for 3 years (taking care of an old lady), I find that she can’t do housework other than basic sweeping, cooking simple dishes and ironing. She doesn’t check her work after doing them. She doesn’t really know how to fold clothes properly, when she hang the laundry, the garments overlap each other and she didn’t put cloth pegs (!), there’ll be stains (and soap!) on the utensils after she washes them, stains on the table even after wiping, doesn’t know how to wipe glass/windows etc. So she needs A Lot of reminding and coaching, especially about cleanliness, and now seems to have improve slightly (in terms of housework). I guess you just need to be more patient with Indo maids. But so far, I like about her is that when we go out, she’ll stay put at one place and doesn’t wander around, (unlike the Philippine one, I always have to hunt for her at shopping malls), doesn’t seem to be interested in fashion (clothes/watches etc), she’s more timid and soft spoken. Also, even though she has no experience in children, she’s putting in effort in trying to feed/change/play with my son and I can see that my son has grown slightly closer to her.

Having a maid really depends on your luck. There’s no perfect maid.

[mummymaid]

chatelaine:

Hi mummymaid


Sad to hear what you have encountered. We can only hope maid agency to be truthful to us.

Hi
Having a good agent is a blessing. Otherwise, we had to fight ourselves with those big giants who are pro-maid. If agents are behind stabbing or leave us to die, we really :stupid:

Hope there's a govt website for employers to provide feedback on agencies service and maids detailed employment history. Govt should advise 1st time employers during their training where they can get help when 'misfortune' befalls. I believe a lot dont know what to do, what rights they have, etc... at the moment, nothing was roll-out to protect maid employers.

Pro-maid giants and over-protective people got to understand having a maid is not a luxury to a number of household. It is not right to make us throw our hard earned $ away when it wasn't employers fault!

[hquek]

KSmom8:

I told her that under the law, I am only obliged to buy an airticket home for her and I need not agree to a transfer. I also highlighted that an airticket to the Philippines is so cheap and not necessary more expensive than the levy that I would have to pay whilst she is looking for a new employer at the agency.

hi ksmom,

My newly-ex maid (upon her request, I sent her back today) started showing a bit of colours after she tendered. I just told her quietly that whilst I'm obligated to buy her airticket, there is nothing to say that I must buy her a direct flight. make me angry enough I can let her transit overnight at Jarkarta airport. :x

Happy to say, she's quite sensible; for the rest of the term, her attitude back to normal.

[janet88]

hquek:

KSmom8:

I told her that under the law, I am only obliged to buy an airticket home for her and I need not agree to a transfer. I also highlighted that an airticket to the Philippines is so cheap and not necessary more expensive than the levy that I would have to pay whilst she is looking for a new employer at the agency.

hi ksmom,

My newly-ex maid (upon her request, I sent her back today) started showing a bit of colours after she tendered. I just told her quietly that whilst I'm obligated to buy her airticket, there is nothing to say that I must buy her a direct flight. make me angry enough I can let her transit overnight at Jarkarta airport. :x

Happy to say, she's quite sensible; for the rest of the term, her attitude back to normal.

There are some employers who bought ferry tickets for their Indon maids...they just dumped them at Batam...sounds cruel but sometimes these maids can drive you up the wall. The one and only time I bought a direct air ticket to Yogjakarta was for my first maid...or else I'll just an airticket to Jakarta airport and let them suffer the 24 hours journey by bus home.

[hquek]

janet_lee88:

There are some employers who bought ferry tickets for their Indon maids...they just dumped them at Batam...sounds cruel but sometimes these maids can drive you up the wall. The one and only time I bought a direct air ticket to Yogjakarta was for my first maid...or else I'll just an airticket to Jakarta airport and let them suffer the 24 hours journey by bus home.

Sorry but those employers are really very bad. I read about a case where the maid was dumped in batam - and subsequently conned to become a 'chicken'. In any case becos of these employers, the current contract stipulates the airport that we have to send them back to. At times I really have the urge to send them to jarkata only.

Strange hor, employers are bound by the contract to do this and that; and maids don't seem to be bothered if they want to go off earlier than the 2 years originally signed, do sidelines despite knowing full well this is against the rules, steal/ill treat their charges (old and young).

Should we ask govt to look into making the maids sign a good character contract - ie cannot steal, cannot tell lies, cannot have affairs, cannot hold a part time job?