Indonesian maid salary to be increased to $450???

[janet88]

3Boys:

What would a newly married couple without children need a maid for?

They will want to consider who looks after bb...calculate expenses before bb arrives.

[TYTTYX]

janet_lee88:

Experience is subjective...maid's definition of experience could be that she has seen microwave oven, washing machine etc but every household works differently. Even cooking is different.

I really do not agree on increasing so much for Indonesia maid... You know when they first come to Singapore, they don't know English, don't know how to operate electronic device, don't know how to do housework, etc... they do not worth the increase. When we work in a company, we can demand for high salary if we have the skill and are knowledgeable that worth the value, but if we don't have experienced skill or just graduated, we can't ask for more too... isn't this should be the same for Indonesia Maid? They are so ignorant and should not be comparing themselves to Philippines maid. And about high salary in HongKong and Taiwan, which I think it's unfair comparison. Many Indonesia maid go to those countries after they gain experience and learn English in Singapore then they go to HongKong Taiwan... My previous two Indo maids also mentioned their plan is to go Taiwan/HongKong after they gain experience in singapore!!!

[janet88]

My maid once told me that if she wants to go straight to HKG from Indonesia, she has to ‘study’ 4 months in agency instead of 1 month to come here.


In HKG, I heard the employers are not that compassionate. Maids have to learn on the job…there is no such thing (maybe there are few cases) as hand-holding or existing maid staying on to coach new one.
How can maids compare with Taiwan or HKG ? When the maids first arrive here, they literally know NUTS…have to teach them from scratch.
Ridiculous to pay $450…just when they know a bit more, they think they can FLY !!! My family and I had to endure eating same 2 dishes every other day. Vomit blood teaching them to do housework.

[daddy2007]

Pen88n:

What about us poor employer - who is giving us the \"extra\" we have to pay out? What comes in goes out to pay everyone else - like that how to ever retire???

And the guys can't have tax rebate for maid employed

[daddy2007]

carebear:

If you feel salary increase is not justified, then don't employ lor.

Sometime we have no choice

[carebear]

daddy2007:

carebear:

If you feel salary increase is not justified, then don't employ lor.

Sometime we have no choice

There are always choices. It is whether you want to take the step or not.
We may be apprehensive of changes, but sometimes a change is all for the better. We are an adaptable species. :celebrate:

[janet88]

carebear:

daddy2007:

[quote=\"carebear\"]If you feel salary increase is not justified, then don't employ lor.

Sometime we have no choice

There are always choices. It is whether you want to take the step or not.
We may be apprehensive of changes, but sometimes a change is all for the better. We are an adaptable species. :celebrate:[/quote]I agree with daddy2007.
Sometimes we don't have a choice. For eg if you have a bb, getting a part-time may not work out...BB will soil/dirty all day but part-time leaves after few hours. Not everyone has the luxury of having grandparents to help out. Housework and cooking is not easy esp if you have older kids to look after too.
After my younger one turned 3/4, I sent off the maid when she started to give attitude problems. Closed 2 eyes earlier with the maids and have to tahan tight budget.

[mrswongtuition]

I know of a family that will be badly affected by the increase in the pay of the maid.


Husband works as bus captain (bus driver). Needs to work shifts. No fixed hours. Sometimes got OT.
Wife works as promoter. Works retail hours. No fixed hours. Sometimes need to work on off days to cover colleagues on MC.

They have 2 young children (1yo & 4yo).

Husband is quite old, his parents have passed away. Wife is Msian and do not have family support in Singapore.

Their only option: Maid (they chose Indonesian maid cos the wife can converse in Malay)
Infantcare/Childcare is out due to their long working hours.
Nanny is out because nanny charges per child & price is different if staying overnight. Too expensive for them.

From what I understand, they do not have savings. On good months, they may save $100 - 200, which will be used up during festive seasons as they need to travel to Msia. With the increase, they may not even have savings.

Their older child is in PCF kindy (cheapest in their area).

They stay in a 3rm flat (new flat, low floor bought very cheaply 10 years ago).

In their case, maid becomes a necessity, not a luxury.

[3Boys]

LKVM:

mrswongtuition:

In their case, maid becomes a necessity, not a luxury.

Yes true

We really need some perspective here. In many many countries in the world, live-in help is a luxury. I cannot think of any other nation where a bus captain and sales promoter with lower than average income can even think that they are entitled to maid. Its ludicrous to assert that somehow a maid is therefore a necessity in this situation. Seriously, virtually non of my colleagues in other countries, rich or poor, have got a maid, and yes, they work really long hours too.

[mrswongtuition]

3Boys:

LKVM:

[quote=\"mrswongtuition\"]In their case, maid becomes a necessity, not a luxury.

Yes true

We really need some perspective here. In many many countries in the world, live-in help is a luxury. I cannot think of any other nation where a bus captain and sales promoter with lower than average income can even think that they are entitled to maid. Its ludicrous to assert that somehow a maid is therefore a necessity in this situation. Seriously, virtually non of my colleagues in other countries, rich or poor, have got a maid, and yes, they work really long hours too.[/quote]Then who looks after their kids?