All About Full-Time Maids

[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.

[hquek]

cody:

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:

oh dear...despite all you did for them. This is really disheartening. Actually quite think what I read in papers are just hype. Yesterday's paper, a maid with 4 years experience and now only want to work for expats.

My first maid had 5 years of experience with me - during which she only has to clean the house and help out in the kitchen. Whilst we had no other troubles with her (thank heavens), in fact, objective assessment:

1. Cleaning skills not quite there - floor can still be a bit sticky.
2. Cooking skills - PHD in observer (watch my dad cook), probably kindy level in practical (assist to stir kaya and prepare vegetables only).
3. Take care of children - zilch becos we didn't want her touching the kids.

It's my bad at not giving her the chance to learn, but mine is not training centre - I don't want my kids to be her guinea pigs. So ended up she was only tasked to take care of the house. If anyone willing to pay her $600-800 for that kind of skills, good luck to them.

In all, I would say, be careful when the bio data says x years in where becos there's no knowing what her responsibilities are. She may only be dedicated to playing with young kids, or washing dishes that kind of job.

[jtoh]

Thanks hquek and cody.

[MintyMin]

my agent told me that MOM did indicate we cannot hold back their money… and tat now we have to open a bank account for them and not a JOINT account… he said coz a lot of employers hold back maid’s money…


NOt sure if this was communicated to the maid…

[hquek]

celtricia:

my agent told me that MOM did indicate we cannot hold back their money.. and tat now we have to open a bank account for them and not a JOINT account.. he said coz a lot of employers hold back maid's money..


NOt sure if this was communicated to the maid..

Can they open an account by themselves? I usually open a joint account - so I can assist to transact on her behalf. I'm not sure if there is any additional requirement since she's a foreigner.

Anyway, I figure as long as I am aboveboard and am very clear in my accounts with her - I'm not concerned about any other repercussions.

[Chenonceau]

I think it is not good to take maids from established agencies. These agencies are very rough with the maids. When they come to the house, they have already developed a victim’s mentality. I had 2 Filipino maids who were very demanding. I had to buy special food for one who needed to be reminded to eat meals. She would starve herself if I didn’t tell her to eat.


Another used so much strong soap that her hands cracked. I was buying cleaning agents at double the rate that I previously did. She complained about the doctor’s medicine, wouldn’t take it. Wouldn’t wear any of the 3 types of gloves I bought for her. I had to run downstairs a few times a day to check on whether she was wearing gloves… and I had to ask if she was using her creams. And she was always crying even though no one scolded her. I felt like I was dealing with a manic-depressive. And then of a sudden, she wanted to go home because she missed home.

I was relieved to see her go.

My new helper is much better. Her agent is a small time one who hosts the new ones in her own house, and does not yell and scream at the new girls. When she arrived in my house, she was not fearful and on her guard. She has adapted nicely, working quickly and is able to finish most things by 2pm. She spends the rest of the day reading books from our library.

AND we are not expats.

[hope05]

Hi there


The passport for my maid from Phillppines is going to expire soon. Called up the agency for renewal but it is so ex… Tried calling up the embassy but the no one picks up the call. Anyone out there knows what are the procedures for renewal?

Thks & rgds,