All About Full-Time Maids

[KSmom8]

marmum:

KSmom8:

[quote=\"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

There's really no such thing as the perfect maid. It really depends on your luck.

I had a married maid that was so homesick and missed her kids so much that she had to be sent home to Philippines after 1 week in Singapore... her sister who also works in Singapore had to reimburse the agent for his expenses. However, I noticed that the Indo maids that are 23 years old as stated in biodatas, look really young and I suspect that most are just in their teens.

Perhaps to hedge the risk, you can ask the agent in Singapore to speak to the Indon agent or the maids directly to gauge the best fit for your requirements. I did this with my agent and declined to interview the maids directly through webcam (I told her that I trust her professional judgement ) and I also told her that I was very worried about the language issue as my malay is very basic. To date, my new maid has been with me about 1month + and am quite satisfied with the agent's recommendation.

This advice was given to me by a relative when I decided on an Indo maid after many years with Fili maids: Choose one that is around 25 years to 30 years and with at least high school education so that the English is not so rusty and you can write to them if they don't understand the spoken form. Preferably one with some experience as a housemaid and minding children, but not in Singapore, so that it is easier to train.

Good luck and hope that you find a good maid!

ksmom8, can you recommend me your agent as I really need to get a replacment quick. My current maid can paint a very nice pic (with words) that she would repent and do a good job but turn around, the problems still exist. She was unhappy when I ask her if she mopped under my bed, she insisted so i ask her to let me check by wrapping a kitchen towel over the mop and check under my bed. She make sounds like \"tsk\" \"tsk\" and went to get a kitchen towel and used her hand to wipe under my bed. She simply ignore my instructions and does she she please. When I ask her why she use did not use the mop which is longer than her arm and can reach to the centre to check,she raised her voice saying that she is checking. And when she unwillingly put the kitchen over the mop and wipe under the bed, what was sighted on the ktichen towel when she pulled out the mop was dust and she immediately said that it was from the mop (the mop was a 3m wet sponge mop that when rinse, no dust would be stuck on it and let along dust that was dry,which is very clear that she did not do a good job). Please help. Thanks.[/quote]Hi I PMed you. This is the first time I am using this agency. Overall I think better than my previous agency. However, my maid mentioned that 2 maids were returned whilst she was at the agent's so not all their maids fit their employers' requirements / expectations.

[KSmom8]

mummymaid:

HI

janet_lee88:

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.

I might do this but my hubby kept telling me to magnify her ++ so her plus is fast, clean and looks nice to my girl so I probably will give agt a wk to find her an employer. I was told Flippino selling like hot cakes (if they not choosey) cos their govt jerk up their salary causing agt/ppl to think twice before importing in. Those already in Spore actually got a good mkt now. Mine had no off day, salary $350. Agt told me now, no off day, it's $380 onwards! :!:

KSmom88:

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.

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?

OK, noted :lol:
She came with extra big, heavy and broken luggage. Hubby kind kind gave her our luggage. I'm her 4th employer, understand the previous ppl passed her old clothes.

My ex-maid has nearly 6 years experience in Singapore and she sends boxes of old clothes that we gave her by sea to Philippines. Apparently quite cheap and they come to the house to collect. Since your maid sooo experienced, I think she can find out either from agent or other maids.

Yes, experienced Fili maids in great demand. My ex-maid's salary was close to $500 (we were very generous with increments and she had an offday a month) and got a transfer within 1 week but had to threaten her with cancellation so that she would not be choosy, so don't know whether she managed to match the salary or get more.

[KSmom8]

mummymaid:

hquek:

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?

Want a petition, count me in ley!
I drew up a detailed jobscope kind of agreement and going to make my new maid and agent sign and 'kiss' on it Had been amending regularly for 'perfection'.

KSmom8:

I also told the agent that allowing a transfer was an exception in her case and that if it took too long for the transfer to be done, I would proceed to cancel her work permit and buy her an airticket home. Needless to say, the transfer to her new employer took less than a week and was very smooth.

Do we have an option for not signing the transfer form? My agt said if maid goes back agt, I need not pay lodging or food. Does that mean once she leaves my house, I dont need to pay any more salary from that day onwards? FYI, I'm liable to pay 21 days levy even if she has just worked 2wk so no diff lor... according to that crazy MOM pro-maid regulation, employer got to cough out these$$!

KSmom8:

[Also there is information in MOM website on all maid agencies - details provided include the number of maids placed by them, success rate on maids' passing the exam, retention rate (i.e. statistic on number of employers who kept the maid for at least 1 year) and demerit points incurred by agency. I thought the 3rd and 4th info was particularly useful and used it to sieve the maid agencies that were recommended to me by friends and relatives. I can't remember how to retrieve it exactly but I think if you search for maid agencies or maid agency or maid agencies review or something similar within the MOM website, you will find the PDF file. The file is updated periodically. (Btw, am not advertising for MOM, I fully agree that MOM should do more to protect employers. I think that the legislation is so pro-maid that good employers who suffer at the hands of bad maids have v little assistance.)

Hope that the above is useful for those looking for new maids in finding a reliable and good agency. :lol:

:idea: This info I didn't know ley ... I must work harder to find that web. If found, I'll share here .

marmum:

She was unhappy when I ask her if she mopped under my bed, she insisted so i ask her to let me check by wrapping a kitchen towel over the mop and check under my bed. She make sounds like \"tsk\" \"tsk\" and went to get a kitchen towel and used her hand to wipe under my bed. She simply ignore my instructions and does she she please. When I ask her why she use did not use the mop which is longer than her arm and can reach to the centre to check,she raised her voice saying that she is checking.

This scenario very familiar. It happened in my house. Mine also insisted using cloth instead of mop. Another incident, instructed my maid to wipe the wall (I got a family portrait on full wall-1 side). She said 'wipe already.' I asked \"did u clean the top and bottom.\" \"yes, mam\". Pointed my finger 'top' =\"no, cant reach\". I asked what's the purpose of having a chair? Then I pointed my finger to the 'bottom' =\"no\". Lazy and using her brains to play cheat. Like that sure get scolding. Thus, unhappy with me, stared at me or don't look at me when I talk to her. Told her look at me, I'm talking to u, simply refused! The worse was she just turned her back before I could finish my sentence. Rude and mis-used the word 'Respect'. Kept thinking respect is meant for her not me!
:x

If I remember correctly, if you agree to the transfer, you have to sign the form which is to MOM so that they can do the paperwork for transfer. I paid salary prorated up to and including the day I sent her back to agent. Not sure about the levy amount for transfer, I thought that only need to pay up till day that maid is transferred to new employer. Checked my bank account deduction, don't think I paid extra 3 weeks levy but difficult to calculate for sure cos I had to pay 2 maids' levies due to overlapping period.

Haha...If you cant find link, I will try harder to find. It's a PDF file and the information is in table format.

This type of attitude and behaviour is exactly like my previous maid. Cannot tahan!!! :x My blood boils whenever I think about it. Usually after she talks back, I will counsel her but black face will continue and talking back will still repeat every few months. Whenever, I think about it, I really regret agreeing to her transfer cos I am almost sure that she will repeat this to her next employer but at that time, I really thought that it was because we don't get along cos my mum and hubby liked her ability to work fast and she can do the job very well if she wants to.

[KSmom8]

mrswongtuition:

My experience with Indon maids so far:

1. Choose older ones, at least 28yo. They are more mature, know how to think for their future (work hard and save up to go back to open small biz for long term sustainability)
2. I prefer ex-Msia or worked in Indon as housemaid or food outlet (hygiene level is abit higher and know how to operate simple kitchen appliances and can cook)
3. Single or married is secondary, no ailing parents at home. Preferred has some form of responsiblity at home (kids need to go school or young siblings need to go school)
4. At least high school education (their English is really better)

I think it's a good set of criteria. :lol:

My current Indo maid is younger than 28yo (so lacking in maturity in some areas but then again I don't trust any maid to look after my kids alone at home so can still accept and adjust), from broken and poor Indon family, wants to work to earn money for herself (cos she has no one to depend on) and does not want to get married soon cos she says if get married, do nothing and have no money in Indonesia.

She is ex-Msia and I was concerned initially that she would be too street-smart but turns out the Msian family and house was bigger and she had to handwash all the clothes, so she was used to hard work and knew how to operate most appliances. Though she did go out with Msian family I don't think it was frequent cos I had to teach her how to use the signs in shopping centre to find the restrooms! Also very appreciative when I buy snacks for her whenever I buy for kids, ask her to choose sometimes and realise that she does not know what some of them are. Her Msian employers were good to her but I think they didn't give her those \"extras\". Totally changed my perception of ex-Msia maids.

[moonee]

HI! Anyone here knows how much and what airline goes to Yagoon Mynmar? I dont recommend a transfer for my maid.

[chatelaine]

Hi marmum


The last time I asked for maid who are single but then it depends on which you are more comfortable. Your youngest kid is already 4yrs, to me it doesn't matter if they are married with kids or not.

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

[chatelaine]

Hi The Little Cheng Mommy


My Indo maid when first came, she doesn’t know much about cooking but was a fast learner. When come to folding and ironing, she’s good. I find she’s ok when comes to housework. My maid agency told me they are usually trained for a mth or so in Indo before sending them to SG + greeting. I think not all agency do that.

[chatelaine]

Hi mummymaid


I was glad that my maid agency is good and does not insist us to do a transfer. Sending the maid home, they leave to us to make a choice. Unlike some agency that I heard, they want to earn money from the maid by doing a transfer.

mummymaid:

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!

[sheryl]

Hi Chateline,

Can provide your maid agency contact? I’m looking for a Indo maid to look after my father who has a stroke. Preferably looking for one with nursing experience. I need a reliable agency who can recommend me one who is willing & patient with elderly.

[snowman.022851697]

moonee:

HI! Anyone here knows how much and what airline goes to Yagoon Mynmar? I dont recommend a transfer for my maid.

Singapore Airlines's subsidiary - SilkAir. Prices range from $444 for roundtrip if I'm not wrong.