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

[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?

[3Boys]

mrswongtuition:

3Boys:

[quote=\"LKVM\"]
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.

Then who looks after their kids?[/quote]There are alternatives.

Even in Singapore, I know of a number of full time working couples with young children, and no grandparents around, who balance using nannies, part time caregivers and careful juggling of work schedules, to get by without maids. Not easy, but it can be done. The problem is that in Singapore, the first knee jerk reaction when couples have children is to pull out the maid agencies phone number. MOST working couples across the world do not do that.

[mrswongtuition]

3Boys:

mrswongtuition:

[quote=\"3Boys\"]
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.

Then who looks after their kids?

There are alternatives.

Even in Singapore, I know of a number of full time working couples with young children, and no grandparents around, who balance using nannies, part time caregivers and careful juggling of work schedules, to get by without maids. Not easy, but it can be done. The problem is that in Singapore, the first knee jerk reaction when couples have children is to pull out the maid agencies phone number. MOST working couples across the world do not do that.[/quote]Hm... but cost wise? Cos their concern is cost. If getting PT help to cover their odd working hours is cheaper than maid, I'm sure they won't mind trying out.

[tamarind]

3Boys:

There are alternatives.

Even in Singapore, I know of a number of full time working couples with young children, and no grandparents around, who balance using nannies, part time caregivers and careful juggling of work schedules, to get by without maids. Not easy, but it can be done. The problem is that in Singapore, the first knee jerk reaction when couples have children is to pull out the maid agencies phone number. MOST working couples across the world do not do that.

Many babies do not sleep through the night. Mommies may have to wake up at least 2 times a night to feed their newborn babies, until they are about 10 to 12 months old.

Then they have to wake up at 8am and go to work for one full day. When they return home and collect the baby from caregivers at 6 or 7 pm, they have no rest and the cycle repeats again. The mommy needs to be a superwoman in order to survive this !

Sure I know a colleague who refused to employ maid and went through this. But she told me that she felt so tired.

The fact is that most women are not able to live a life like this. That is why many women would rather not give birth, or give birth to only one baby.

Please have some pity on mommies who are not superwomen. It is very unfair to criticize other mommies for not trying hard enough, for not being able to take the hardship, and implying that they are lazy.

Yes I have a maid, because I cannot take the hardship. I am not ashamed of saying it. I have studied very hard for many years of my youth, why should I take any more hardship now ? There was a period of time when I had to take care of my baby with no maid, I was so tired and stressed that I sank into depression. I am just not a superwoman !

The lack of sympathy for working mommies like me is certainly the main reason why the birth rate continues to decline. It is quite hopeless.

Also, please do not compare us with other countries. Young mommies here earn peanuts compared to other countries.

My cousin, who is living in the USA, has 2 degrees from Harvard and Cambridge. She has to stay at home for 7 years to look after her kids. When she decided to go back to work, she employed a nanny who costs her USD2000 a month. The nanny only takes care of the kids and does not do any house work.

Take a look at the median salary in Singapore by age group :
http://www.salary.sg/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/median-income-by-age-group.gif\">

[tamarind]

Join in the discussion in my blog :


http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2011/01/pay-hike-as-supply-of-maids-dry-up-23.html

[janet88]

With all the comparisons going on between working in SG or HKG/Taiwan, I hope someone should voice out that comparisons shouldn’t be made at all. How can you compare ? Govt rules are different to begin with.


Many capable women would love to have kids, but looking after the babies is a big question. It’s not an easy job at all, esp in the first year. In low income families, both husband and wife has to work, so employing a maid will worsen their financial status.