All About Full-Time Maids
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An alarming number of foreign maids ran away from their employers' homes in 2010 alone.
A Straits Times check with embassies and foreign workers showed that at least 4,000 had run away from their employers' homes last year.
The most common complaints heard were homesickness, being overworked, or bosses who scolded them as well as being unpaid for their work. The majority had worked in Singapore for less than six months and were yet to receive a regular salary since they had to repay loans of up to 11 months' salary to employers.
Embassy officials say many of the women's complaints cannot be proven and some are even found to be false. But it is rare for the women to return to their employers. About 70 per cent are repatriated and the rest move to new employers.
4000 is a lot leh - esp since it involves mostly new maids. I would think this shows that maids are more aware of their rights and don't need the money - run away can go home faster? Those who truly need to support their families would have gritted their teeth (unless conditions are really bad).
Should they look into the requirement where SG employers pay up on behalf of the maid? And the maid pay that amount themselves? Since we are talking about HK and Taiwan, I understand that employers don't bear their loans if any to go there. I'm sure their local agents are more effective to make sure the maids pay whatever is due to them (agent) for placement fees than a hapless employer who dunno where the village is situated (I don't).
Anyway, so far the 3 maids I got only get salaries deducted for 8 months - I wonder which bloodsucker agent (this is harsh but that's how I feel) get 11 months. FYI, this current myanmar maid: she is getting cash $60 and her salary deduction is about 8 months. -
hquek:
Thanks so much to all for the advice.Agree, better be more careful as to the valuables and monies in the house. If she really bought a hp, the next question is how she's going to finance the usage.
Act blur in front of her and pretend dunno. No point going through her belongings as she may have passed it to a friend.
I'm actually wary of letting maids go down to wash the car by themselves becos I see a lot chit chatting away with friends. That is also a good time to pass things around. So either we wash the car ourselves; or we'll go down with her together.
Yes, we should be more careful with valuables and money with this maid, as with my previous Filipina maid (who was kept her own salary). With the \"no cash\" policy, I think we have been more relaxed and less wary. However, it is true that they can pass the money and stuff to their friends. My maid is able to handle the work and so far, I have very little complaints. The issue is she has a sweet mouth and is quick to come up with excuses...also I strongly suspect she can be defiant and stubborn... so don't want to spoil the current cordial relationship.
I just told my son, in my maid's presence, that I always know when he is lying even though I don't always kick up a fuss over it. Hope she gets the hint. -
Hi,
I also did that, taking the chance of discipline my child infront of my maid, telling them not to tell lie and I know them inside out and I can say that my six sense was very accurate and they cant escape my eye.
I knew on some occasion my maid tell lies in order to defence herself, maybe scare I will scold her or what. When she was here in the beginning, she tends to test my forgetfulness and insists she did not do this or that and somehow I did not pursue any further but after a few occasion, I dont let her pull her trick anymore and just told her off straight away without asking if she is the one who did it and she just keep quiet after that cos certain thing, you just kind of think who else but she. Of course, I did not frame her as I am very sure of every little details of my own house, so she wont have anymore excuses. Sofar, she hardly did that anymore.
After 2 years, we had slowly build up our rapport between us and even though I still cant trust her 100% but I believe its all about mutual respect. She need the money to support her family and I need her to take care of my chores and taking care of kids. Just treat her well, show concern and ask abt her family at home also, and this will let her feel happy and appreciated and she will ultimately show respect to us and do their work deligently.
Of course not all maids are the same and it still boils down to their attitudes and reasons wanting to come here and work. -
hquek:
Don't understand why maids can have HOME, TWC2, AEAS and MOM to protect them. We have nobody to turn to! :x Shouldn't an organisation or Unit be set up to help employers bullied by these so-called inferior & harmless human beings but were actually wolves in disguise?An alarming number of foreign maids ran away from their employers' homes in 2010 alone.
A Straits Times check with embassies and foreign workers showed that at least 4,000 had run away from their employers' homes last year.
The most common complaints heard were homesickness, being overworked, or bosses who scolded them as well as being unpaid for their work. The majority had worked in Singapore for less than six months and were yet to receive a regular salary since they had to repay loans of up to 11 months' salary to employers.
Embassy officials say many of the women's complaints cannot be proven and some are even found to be false. But it is rare for the women to return to their employers. About 70 per cent are repatriated and the rest move to new employers.
4000 is a lot leh - esp since it involves mostly new maids. I would think this shows that maids are more aware of their rights and don't need the money - run away can go home faster? Those who truly need to support their families would have gritted their teeth (unless conditions are really bad).
Should they look into the requirement where SG employers pay up on behalf of the maid? And the maid pay that amount themselves? Since we are talking about HK and Taiwan, I understand that employers don't bear their loans if any to go there. I'm sure their local agents are more effective to make sure the maids pay whatever is due to them (agent) for placement fees than a hapless employer who dunno where the village is situated (I don't).
Anyway, so far the 3 maids I got only get salaries deducted for 8 months - I wonder which bloodsucker agent (this is harsh but that's how I feel) get 11 months. FYI, this current myanmar maid: she is getting cash $60 and her salary deduction is about 8 months.
Current contract set by AEAS and CASE have lots of loop holes that put Employers at risk. Set up a Special Unit to handle problems araised due to shortchanged by agencies or FDWs unable to perform according to the jobscope (outlined in details to agent before hiring). This Unit acts on our behalf, helps busy employers run errands, settle issues with maid agencies, attend interviews at the timing & convenience of MOM or AEAS and CASE....clear all kinds of hassle. Not all Employers are able to take Leave whenever there's a dispute/meeting required - often very dragging and takes up lots of time and energy.
This Unit is basically setup to help Employers (standup for them), especially when FDW runs away and leave behind a huge unpaid loan http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/messages/5/2309357.html?1290733667, http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/messages/5/4692256.html?1290579099
Act on our behalf by processing and dealing w/Agencies who Did NOT exercise due diligence. Bio data provided are not 100% accurate. Agency should exercise due diligence (check with source countries, phone interview them (see face to face online) before employers speak (interview online or pick them up) . Agency shouldn't push out unsuitable, especially unsound maid. It is alright for agency to counsel maid but it is not ethical to push unsuitable maid to employers - we paid for agency fee, not getting any free service.
Eg, Employer wanted somebody can cook but agency gave somebody who mainly watches how to cook, helps to prepare but hasn't cook independantly. Or maid reaches Spore unable to accept the fact of a heavy 7-9 mths loan, claimed homesick or displayed mental and adjustability issue, should be settle down at agency (transition) and not be picked up by employers. It is not the employers job to counsel maid nor babysit a spolit 'princess'. Employers saw bio indicated University grads but only upon maid's arrival, Employer realised FDW didn't complete the course so she's not a U-grad. -
It’s very sad that maids have a shelter but we don’t :x Where is the fairness? Not happy with job scope or employers, they will ask for change. Can we also run away and find a shelter? Who protects the employers?
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hquek:
An alarming number of foreign maids ran away from their employers' homes in 2010 alone.
This description fit my 2nd maid to a T. She ran away from her 2nd employer last year after about 5 months in Singapore complaining of overwork and lack of sleep. She was new. We are her 3rd employer already and so far she has worked for my mother for coming to 5 months, loan finishing and she would have her salary soon.
We let her keep those ang pow money. In fact, the first SGD20 allowance I gave her she ask me to keep for her. For what? I don't want, I told her to sign for it, take the money and keep herself. If she lose the money her own business. I plan to open a bank account for her once she got her salary so that I can bank it in for her. But yeh, let her keep her money means she can do whatever she wants. So far she bought some clothes for herself from a nearby 2nd hand shop and quite good value for money ie. SGD 10+ only. Then one day I heard she bought a HANDPHONE without telling me. :x
Ya lah, that's the result of letting her keep the money herself. I told my mother in that case since she did not tell us about the hand-phone, she can jolly well finance the phone cards herself, told my family members not to buy her any phone cards.
So far she has been taking care of my dad well and does the housework helping my mum well. So we \"close one eye\" on the rest. Since the old folks don't go out (not even on Sunday my dad wants to go out), she also got no free days off but she does run errands for my mum and that was when she got chance to go downstairs around the shops and got her hand-phone I suppose!
So long as no serious mistake, we just let her be because keeping in touch with her friends also keeps her sane I suppose.
:roll: -
The Straits Times
Maids getting to choose their bosses (14 Feb 2011)
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2011/02/maids-getting-to-choose-their-bosses-14.html
Please feel free to comment in my blog. -
DesertWind:
Hi Desertwind,Then one day I heard she bought a HANDPHONE without telling me. :x
Ya lah, that's the result of letting her keep the money herself. I told my mother in that case since she did not tell us about the hand-phone, she can jolly well finance the phone cards herself, told my family members not to buy her any phone cards.
it's good to keep mum about things that have happened - no point spoiling relations unless there is absolute proof. But on financing handphone usage, do take note. I've seen in a petrol station, a maid top up her phone card with a big bag of coins. Where the coins come from? One can only imagine. I think there was a fairly early posting about sources of such 'financing'. -
tamarind:
Hubby's colleague had a Filipino maid who ran away in the middle of the night. The embassy called the employer to go to the embassy the next morning. COMPLAINT made by maid is - Maid is left at home to look after bb all the time. Is the maid here to enjoy life or work ?The Straits Times
Maids getting to choose their bosses (14 Feb 2011)
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2011/02/maids-getting-to-choose-their-bosses-14.html
Please feel free to comment in my blog. -
janet_lee88:
OMG, i not even dare to ask my maid to look after my baby at night, i am the one who need to wake up few times to feed my baby.
Hubby's colleague had a Filipino maid who ran away in the middle of the night. The embassy called the employer to go to the embassy the next morning. COMPLAINT made by maid is - Maid is left at home to look after bb all the time. Is the maid here to enjoy life or work ?tamarind:
The Straits Times
Maids getting to choose their bosses (14 Feb 2011)
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2011/02/maids-getting-to-choose-their-bosses-14.html
Please feel free to comment in my blog.
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