All About Full-Time Maids

[raynreg]

hquek:

But I heard that my current maid - whilst ok to work for another 2 years, will not be wanting to continue thereafter. Me being paranoid since she's only here less than 6 months. Will see if I can keep her for a longer time. Didn't imagine that staff retention is also an issue I have to face.

You have a possible 2 + 2 contract there. Isn't that an assurance or a least some comfort. No point thinking so far ahead. I'll be happy if my helper could finish just 2 years of her contract or maybe just the loan period before all the wayang starts.

[hquek]

raynreg:

hquek:

But I heard that my current maid - whilst ok to work for another 2 years, will not be wanting to continue thereafter. Me being paranoid since she's only here less than 6 months. Will see if I can keep her for a longer time. Didn't imagine that staff retention is also an issue I have to face.

You have a possible 2 + 2 contract there. Isn't that an assurance or a least some comfort. No point thinking so far ahead. I'll be happy if my helper could finish just 2 years of her contract or maybe just the loan period before all the wayang starts.

The previous maid early on said that she only want to work 2 years....end up 1+ year already say wanna go home.

Anyway, I'm counting my blessings and asking my mum to treat this maid well. praying she will last 2 years first.

[cody]

ElasticGirl:

my maid went on home leave 2 months before end of contract with her promise to return back and work for another 2 years.. But she never turned up at the airport on the date of arrival .


we felt so cheated as we had in acceded to her request to go back so that she could celebrate her father's birthday and in good faith loaned her a luggage & purchased return tickets & some pocket money .

if anyone out there are considering hiring a maid named Felgelyn Regidor from the Philippines .. BEWARE .. !!. :x

Ay ay ElasticGirl .... this happens very frequently to maids of whatever nationality! i have been victim to such maids too often already

[hquek]

cody:

ElasticGirl:

my maid went on home leave 2 months before end of contract with her promise to return back and work for another 2 years.. But she never turned up at the airport on the date of arrival .


we felt so cheated as we had in acceded to her request to go back so that she could celebrate her father's birthday and in good faith loaned her a luggage & purchased return tickets & some pocket money .

if anyone out there are considering hiring a maid named Felgelyn Regidor from the Philippines .. BEWARE .. !!. :x

Ay ay ElasticGirl .... this happens very frequently to maids of whatever nationality! i have been victim to such maids too often already

But I wonder. Since they already state intention to come back, can't we withhold say $500 until they come back to SG? So far, only my first maid had home leave (2nd maid didn't stay long enough, current maid not yet also).

Becos I set up bank account for her, I used this as reason to keep at least $500 in her account. Told her if she don't come back, I will use to recoup the work permit and airticket money lost. But I'm not sure how this can be done if the maid don't have bank account (perhaps spend or remit all before the month is out).

But those that borrow money with no intention to repay is too much. I heard about such maids borrowing off other maids....wah piang, theirs is not hard earned money? To do this to your fellow friends...'man do, heavens see'.

[cody]

tamarind:

I had one ex-maid who worked for me for over 2 years. I found out after I sent her away, that she ran away from her previous employer, leaving the new born baby alone at home.


I knew nothing about this when I employed her. The maid agency knew about this, and they knew I needed her to look after my baby, but they still recommended her.

Maid agencies are a bunch of heartless people.

Argh! i hate such agents!!
If they were going to hire a maid for themself, they won't hire such a maid either!
so why did they give us a maid like this?
Pure greed.


:x

[jtoh]

hquek:

cody:

[quote=\"ElasticGirl\"]my maid went on home leave 2 months before end of contract with her promise to return back and work for another 2 years.. But she never turned up at the airport on the date of arrival .


we felt so cheated as we had in acceded to her request to go back so that she could celebrate her father's birthday and in good faith loaned her a luggage & purchased return tickets & some pocket money .

if anyone out there are considering hiring a maid named Felgelyn Regidor from the Philippines .. BEWARE .. !!. :x

Ay ay ElasticGirl .... this happens very frequently to maids of whatever nationality! i have been victim to such maids too often already

But I wonder. Since they already state intention to come back, can't we withhold say $500 until they come back to SG? So far, only my first maid had home leave (2nd maid didn't stay long enough, current maid not yet also).

Becos I set up bank account for her, I used this as reason to keep at least $500 in her account. Told her if she don't come back, I will use to recoup the work permit and airticket money lost. But I'm not sure how this can be done if the maid don't have bank account (perhaps spend or remit all before the month is out).

But those that borrow money with no intention to repay is too much. I heard about such maids borrowing off other maids....wah piang, theirs is not hard earned money? To do this to your fellow friends...'man do, heavens see'.[/quote]The maids will claim that they need all their money when they go home and that $500 will help in building house etc, so they must take the $500 home with them. I don't think we are allowed to withhold any of their money as they've completed their contract.

I've also heard of maids borrowing money from other maids and disappearing.

[cody]

hquek:

But I wonder. Since they already state intention to come back, can't we withhold say $500 until they come back to SG? So far, only my first maid had home leave (2nd maid didn't stay long enough, current maid not yet also).


Becos I set up bank account for her, I used this as reason to keep at least $500 in her account. Told her if she don't come back, I will use to recoup the work permit and airticket money lost. But I'm not sure how this can be done if the maid don't have bank account (perhaps spend or remit all before the month is out).

I did that ..... because once bitten twice shy ... so i retained the $600 compulsory savings with me, and told her she can't take this with her when she returns home.

And even when she comes back to start a new contract with me, i will still continue to keep that $600, just in case she wants to break her contract & needs the $$ to buy an air ticket home.

All this is done WITHOUT a bank account .... i give my maid the cash monthly, and she decides what she wants to do with it.
I throw in $20 extra at the end of the 2 years as interest equivalent.


It's saddening that whatever I do to motivate a good maid, nothing is good enough for them.
My maids get 1 day off per month (even tho their initial contract says no day off), gets to use her handphone, gets salary increments, get bonus, gets to go on vacations with us etc etc. .... all this to a zilch.

i'm so tired of hiring maids.
:stupid:

[jtoh]

Just wondering, is it okay for us to keep their $500 savings when they go on home leave? These days the maids are very happy to complain to MOM about everything (because MOM encourages them to).

[hquek]

jtoh:

The maids will claim that they need all their money when they go home and that $500 will help in building house etc, so they must take the $500 home with them. I don't think we are allowed to withhold any of their money as they've completed their contract.

I've also heard of maids borrowing money from other maids and disappearing.

Understand that argument. But if they intend to come back after home leave, employers would have to arrange for work permit renewal, buy return tickets and all. For filipinos, i understand the cost via agent can come up to close to 1K. It's surely not fair that all this is done and they happily call later to tell the employer they dun want to come back. Aren't they supposed to be adults? How come act like kids?

Anyway, this money will be returned to them in full when they come back. They completed the old contract, but they would have to sign a NEW contract right? But I do recognise the dilemma - thus my preference to set up bank account. At least there is a min sum they have to keep.

[cody]

jtoh:

Just wondering, is it okay for us to keep their $500 savings when they go on home leave? These days the maids are very happy to complain to MOM about everything (because MOM encourages them to).

i type out a agreement, signed by my maid & I that i am holding on to that $500-600 on a behalf as a form of savings, which will be automatically returned to her upon the end of her next contract.

In the event that she doesn't come back from her Home Leave, that $500-600 will be used to pay for her outstanding liabilities / expenses incurred.