All About Full-Time Maids

[DesertWind]

janet_lee88:

My friend's maid worked for her for 4 years. Just before going home for 3 weeks, she wants an increment from $380 to $450. Then before flying home, she wants to increase to $500. My friend needs her, so no choice have to agree.

Hi janet_lee,

Actually I already told my maid at the beginning of the year I will increase her pay to SGD500 in Jan2011 and will increase somemore when she renew her contract with me in Aug2011 and she was so happy! But now with the announcement, wah lau, what seems to be a good increment is no longer good comparing to what was reported ie. ex-SG is at least SGD500 per month now! Therefore I must increase more for my maid lor and I am sure I will look like an employer being held hostage when I tell her I will increase even more for her given the annoucement!

[carebear]

The other way we can cut cost is to have a prior agreement that the maid has to buy her own daily amenities since her pay is higher now.

[janet88]

carebear:

The other way we can cut cost is to have a prior agreement that the maid has to buy her own daily amenities since her pay is higher now.

I make her pay for her own toiletries - sanitary pads, soap, shampoo, toothpaste since she will treasure and use them longer as compared to employer providing them.

Hi DesertWind,
This new announcement will make employers at the mercy of the maids...if employer doesn't increase to $450, then maids will drop hints frequently :x to get message across. If objective not achieved, then attitude problem will worsen.
What's the meaning of this increment ? New maids with absolutely no experience working in a household to be paid $450 !!! Vomit blood + hand-holding for few first months, then just when you think more independent, the maids think they can fly.

[hquek]

carebear:

The other way we can cut cost is to have a prior agreement that the maid has to buy her own daily amenities since her pay is higher now.

I would agree personally. But the agent ever told me before that I should have to provide her with basic amenities (ie shampoo/soap) - and that agent is a distant relative...so I don't really think she will side with the maid. Apparently it's a MOM thing.

Between rock and hard place. Tell me if more women are not going to consider staying at home.

[janet88]

hquek:

carebear:

The other way we can cut cost is to have a prior agreement that the maid has to buy her own daily amenities since her pay is higher now.

I would agree personally. But the agent ever told me before that I should have to provide her with basic amenities (ie shampoo/soap) - and that agent is a distant relative...so I don't really think she will side with the maid. Apparently it's a MOM thing.

Between rock and hard place. Tell me if more women are not going to consider staying at home.

I provided soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toilet roll during the 8 months when maid received $20. When she had more pay, she would have to pay for her own toiletries but toilet roll still on me.
With higher pay for maids now, I think more women will consider quitting esp with kids in primary school.

[hquek]

Curious, the way maid salaries are going now; will there come a day when we have to contribute CPF for them?


I thought there is a minimum sum (well for all other workers) that once worker hit that, employer has to contribute cpf.

:shock: :!:

[Angelight]

I'm not surprised at all that one day we will have to pay cpf for maids, maybe that day will come sooner than expected, what with the maids suppliers saying that spore employers have to match up to HK's S$650 and Taiwan's S$800 pay for maids.


And with maids commanding more pay now, I won't be surprised many women will not consider having more kids (unless they have alot of support help from extended family) and those who are working may consider quitting their job to stay home with their kids instead, esp if their family income is not very high.

Is this a good trend for spore's society? Only time will tell. But I hope the govt (ie. MOM) will seriously consider the suggestion made by one MP during parliament to have FDWs pay for their own agent loans instead of the employers paying upfront for them. This is how it works in HK and Taiwan. Also MOM shld really consider waiving the maid levy so at least this amt can be channeled to paying the maid's higher salary now. It will help take the financial load off employers who are not well off but still need a maid to take care of elderly, kids/babies, invalids etc.

Hello, MOM, are you reading this?! Hope it's not just my one tiny voice...

hquek:

Curious, the way maid salaries are going now; will there come a day when we have to contribute CPF for them?

I thought there is a minimum sum (well for all other workers) that once worker hit that, employer has to contribute cpf.

:shock: :!:

[janet88]

Angelight:

I'm not surprised at all that one day we will have to pay cpf for maids, maybe that day will come sooner than expected, what with the maids suppliers saying that spore employers have to match up to HK's S$650 and Taiwan's S$800 pay for maids.


And with maids commanding more pay now, I won't be surprised many women will not consider having more kids (unless they have alot of support help from extended family) and those who are working may consider quitting their job to stay home with their kids instead, esp if their family income is not very high.

Is this a good trend for spore's society? Only time will tell. But I hope the govt (ie. MOM) will seriously consider the suggestion made by one MP during parliament to have FDWs pay for their own agent loans instead of the employers paying upfront for them. This is how it works in HK and Taiwan. Also MOM shld really consider waiving the maid levy so at least this amt can be channeled to paying the maid's higher salary now. It will help take the financial load off employers who are not well off but still need a maid to take care of elderly, kids/babies, invalids etc.

Hello, MOM, are you reading this?! Hope it's not just my one tiny voice...

hquek:

Curious, the way maid salaries are going now; will there come a day when we have to contribute CPF for them?

Employers in HKG & Taiwan pay the maids higher...so absurd that MOM charges levy without having to do anything and is not on employers side :x Maids bully employers, up to monkey tricks to change employers bcos they are not happy with their employers...yet we have to accept it.

[minnie2004]

Totally agree that the govt shud waive the maids levy. Not sure about taiwan, but in hk the levy is waived. If the sg govt really wants to boost the birth rate and economy, this is the least that they can do.

[hquek]

Angelight:

I'm not surprised at all that one day we will have to pay cpf for maids, maybe that day will come sooner than expected, what with the maids suppliers saying that spore employers have to match up to HK's S$650 and Taiwan's S$800 pay for maids.

I read the forum letters in TODAY. One lady was saying that she worked in TW/HK before and the maids supplied to those countries are of far better quality. They would 'deserve' such rates. In fact, SG is more often the training ground for such 'quality' maids.

Pay peanuts get monkey, I understand this principal. But what i don't understand is why the amount we fork out is getting bigger - and it seems the monkeys we get are bigger (not better).

In any case, yes, I do support if MOM:
1. legislates that FDWs to be responsible for their own loans. Don't make SG employers the scapegoat should any FDW want to come here for free holiday only. Since HK and TW don't have loan, why should we bear that amount?

2. reduce the FWL. I really really dunno what the monthly levy is for. the newsletter? the exam they have to take?

3. fdw to be responsible for their own actions. Why is it they can have a good time with men and then employers have to bear their childbirthing cost? Aren't they adults?

BUT, if any employer/govt wants to top up OUR pay to be on par with TW or HK standards, okay, I pay TW or HK price for maid.

Last word on this matter (getting more and more excited). Are the domestic workers in INDO getting the same 20% or more increment to stay on in their current positions? Or why THEIR own pp pay HK/TW price to engage their locals to work as domestic workers in Indo?