All About Full-Time Maids

[JHJC]

arisz,

first thing first- do not panic. This is also one of the tricks my ex agency taught their maids… not happy… run away. So that they can earn another commission from a new employer. AT the same time, they could "upsell" a reaplcement maid to the current employer.

you just need to wait. No need to call embassy… they will contact the agency or you if she is there.

At the sametime, you need to pray she is not hurt, cos… everthing is Employer’s responsibilities. Go get ready to send her back to her hometown and do eveyone a favour, update in Tamarind’s blog and please do not transfer!

[arisz]

Hi ChiefKiasu, JHJC,


My agent called me and said the maid is at Embassy already. She told the embassy people that she is homesick and wants to go home asap. But she had not finished her loan in Sg. She barely worked for me for less than 3 months.

My agent asked me to wait and see how first. She is trying to settle with her ‘management’ on my case. Coz I suspected my maid of stealing money and my mil ever complained that the maid stole 100 bucks from my sil. I’m angry that I have to pay the air tix for a person whom I suspect is a thief. She caused so much trouble for me by just running away like that.

Furthermore, how she mange to run away is most likely last night when we reached home. We asked her to lock the door. She did not lock at all since she plotted to run away. It is not the first time already.

The first wk when she was here. That time my hubby accidentally left the house key in the leaving room before he left for biz trip. She sneaked out around mid night leaving the door open and not latched to make a call downstairs. My boy and I was sleeping in my room (unlock) and hubby was overseas. I was very angry when I found out. I scolded her for putting me and my boy at risked and herself also dangerous. A girl to be downstairs in the middle of the night is not safe.

Also, she has no Sing $ by right (I checked her bag thoroughly when she juz reached my place), so I guess she steal our coins to make call. The funny thing is, I did told her when she just came that if she wants to call home, juz tell me. After that incident, I asked her why didn’t she ask me, she said she scared.

How to buy air tix for such a person to go home?! I’m losing so much in terms of monetary just because she is homesick and she ran to Embassy for help. Who is going to help me then?!?! I did not ill-treat her at all lo!

[tamarind]

arisz,

My advise to you is to buy an air ticket and send her back ASAP.

MOM states that employer must pay for the air ticket. You have no choice but to do so. Even if you make a police report that your maid steals from you, in the end you still must buy the air ticket to send her home.

Click here to see MOM rules.
http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/work_pass/foreign_domestic_workers/employers__guidelines/Termination_of_Services__Repatriation_and_Security_Bond.html

It is very troublesome to report to the police. The maid may turn around and accuse you of abusing her. Once she does this, you are in deep trouble. Most people, including the judge, are very likely to believe that the employer abuse the maid. Then you may be banned from employing another maid until you are proven to be not guilty, which may take forever.

This is a common tactic used by Filipino maids. I have experienced it first hand myself. So just send her away ASAP.

Then like JHJC say, update in my blog. You can also try to email MOM and ask them to blacklist the maid, because you suspect her to be stealing. MOM may or may not decide to blacklist her.

I have seen many cases like this. Some cases are even worst than yours.

The truth is that employer's in Singapore has no rights. If we want to employ maids, we must be prepared to lose money in the unfortunate event of getting a bad maid.

[tamarind]

ChiefKiasu:

I can well understand the stress. Maybe there should be a faq for owning maids. What should one do when one's maid run away? Call MOM to report? Or the police?

I wrote a short section about what happens if the maid runs away somewhere here in my blog :

http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-manage-maid.html

It is part of an FAQ of how to manage a maid.

[JHJC]

Agreed, no point go MOM, no point call police. Sadly, all these are going to be additional cost. DO not even think of AEAS (one of the worst organisation around)! Just go to budget air, ticket less than $300. Send her back immediately.

[arisz]

My ran away maid most probably have stolen my sil’s extra sim card and make calls back to phillipines before she ran off. Anyway it is either she stole and gave her friends or she used it herself. But then we were still thinking how she used it for herself since she has no hp. Most calls were made in the morning around 7+am.


Anyway, juz found out today coz my sil check her hp bill then realise that her extra sim card is missing and the bill got calls to phillipines.

Never-ending problem. We are thinking of making police report …but don’t know useful or not. Do you all think I should make police report or just sent her home straight away. But like that is like letting a thief go scott free. I’m so pissed!

[cookiecreature]

Hi Tamarind, need an advise from you though my problem is very small.


My maid is less than two month old, I send her to my baby sister house in the morning to learn how to take care of kids cos she has no experience.

She told my baby sitter today that i scold her because she give honey to the kids w/out asking me. This morning I already noticed that her unhappy face that and called my babysitter beforehand to watch out for her behavour …

My maid told my baby sitter abt me scolding her (which I did not scold her, I just tell her like normal conversation)… So, my baby sitter explain to her that my girl is sensitive to many foods and that madam is telling you not scolding you.

After an hour later, heard that the maid told my girl "don’t do that otherwise, you will complain to your mummy and I will get scolded again".

From here I reckon that she is a very petty person. I will be moving soon and kids will be under her care from 5pm to 8pm before we are home…
I need someone who is not so prideful and will take instruction w/out holding grudges… I don’t want to be in the mercy of the maid because of my kids…

I intend to sit down with her tonight to tell her that if she cannot hold her pride as a maid, i will ask her to choose another employer… what do you think?

[tamarind]

cookiecreature,

Your maid does seem to be a very petty person. But then as employers we must point out the maid’s mistake whenever necessary. You can try to observer her further, and try to speak to her in a very cool and calm tone when you point out her mistakes. If she is really that sensitive, then instead of telling her, write her a message. Then she cannot accuse you of scolding her.

I advise employers never to raise their voice at the maid. The reason is that the maid may hate you and who knows what she will do behind your back.

I think when you talk to her, you should not ask her to choose another employer. Some maids can get very upset when they hear this. I got one ex-maid who went crazy when I told her this. There is no need to tell a maid if you intend to send her away. Just arrange everything quietly and inform her the day she is supposed to go.

[cookiecreature]

Okay thanks for your prompt advise.

I will do that tonight. Thanks alot!

[Admummy]

My maid is gg back to Java for 2 wks leave before returning to Singapore to renew another 2 yrs contract with me. This is the first time she going back since aug 2007. I am really worried that she will get pregnant when she return. I ever consulted a GP during my maid’s 6mthly checkup about my concern. GP advice was to prescribe birth control pills for her (2 mths only)…i am in dilemma now…on one hand, i feel like proceeding with it on the other hand, i feel not ethical to do so…my main concern is that it so happen that it’s her fertile period during that period…i really dun want her to get preggy, so far i have already renewed her passport, work permit and even bought insurance for her…besides I need her back since i am expecting now…advise anyone pls?