All About Full-Time Maids

[MintyMin]

pineapple tarts:

[quote] How much ang pow was she expecting? After all, it's the relative giving the ang pao, and she doesn't work for the relative does she?

I live with my MIL. CNY many many many many relatives will come to her house. My maid have to wash endless cups & dishes BUT NO ONE gives her any ang bao. Aren't they shameful at all ? :? Wat is a small token for this poor maid? Not forgetting, when these people left at around 11p.m. after their mahjoing session, this poor maid is still cleaning up the mess. shamelesssssssss........... mind u, she doesnt complain a word.[/quote]Tis i agree tat the maid definitely deserve the red pkts for the amt of wrk she did during CNY.. there isnt a nid to give BIG FAT red pkts.. a small token is more den enuff to show tat her work/help is appreciated..

[hquek]

pineapple tarts:

[quote] How much ang pow was she expecting? After all, it's the relative giving the ang pao, and she doesn't work for the relative does she?

I live with my MIL. CNY many many many many relatives will come to her house. My maid have to wash endless cups & dishes BUT NO ONE gives her any ang bao. Aren't they shameful at all ? :? Wat is a small token for this poor maid? Not forgetting, when these people left at around 11p.m. after their mahjoing session, this poor maid is still cleaning up the mess. shamelesssssssss........... mind u, she doesnt complain a word.[/quote]Perhaps the relatives have the mindset that they are guests and not paying customers. I also won't give maids that I see once a year even if they are maids of my relatives. But if they are generally helpful type, and I see them a few times a year, I'll give.

Anyway, my parents and I give my maid angpows separately - coming from employer is intrinsic in our culture. Anything from relatives (esp those who only come once a year is bonus.

[gumiho]

hquek:

pineapple tarts:

[quote] How much ang pow was she expecting? After all, it's the relative giving the ang pao, and she doesn't work for the relative does she?

I live with my MIL. CNY many many many many relatives will come to her house. My maid have to wash endless cups & dishes BUT NO ONE gives her any ang bao. Aren't they shameful at all ? :? Wat is a small token for this poor maid? Not forgetting, when these people left at around 11p.m. after their mahjoing session, this poor maid is still cleaning up the mess. shamelesssssssss........... mind u, she doesnt complain a word.

Perhaps the relatives have the mindset that they are guests and not paying customers. I also won't give maids that I see once a year even if they are maids of my relatives. But if they are generally helpful type, and I see them a few times a year, I'll give.

Anyway, my parents and I give my maid angpows separately - coming from employer is intrinsic in our culture. Anything from relatives (esp those who only come once a year is bonus.[/quote] :goodpost:

[Tamama]

hi everybody,

i am new to here and would like to say hi.
i have employed a filipino maid just last month. i never have a maid in singapore before. may i know how you provide her consumables like soap, shampoo, tooth brush, sanitary napkins, etc? you buy for her? she buys herself and got a receipt to claim back from you? or you give her an allowance for a certain period?
last month after she came i gave her $50 and told her it would be for her consumables for 3 months. today she tells me she need extra money to buy her sanitary napkins cos all her $50 was spent up already. :!: am i giving her too less?
i have no idea about the price of those consumables cos we are in singapore for just half year. we brought over quite a lot of those consumables from US and up to now we are still using them without buying new ones. so please give me some ideas on how to manage this situation. many many thanks.

[happy to be mum]

Hi Tamama


Welcome to KSP!

You have given your maid too much for her consumables. In the first place, since you are paying for her consumables, you do not need to give her the money to buy but you will buy for her.

I also just have my phinoy maid for a year and I never give her money to buy for her consumables like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel,face wash, sanitary pads etc. I will get it for her and she will use it.

Hope the information is good for you

[raynreg]

Same here…we buy the all the toiletries for her. If she decides on using certain specific brand, then she’s paying for it. However, I do top up once they are finished.

[hquek]

Tamama:

hi everybody,

i am new to here and would like to say hi.
i have employed a filipino maid just last month. i never have a maid in singapore before. may i know how you provide her consumables like soap, shampoo, tooth brush, sanitary napkins, etc? you buy for her? she buys herself and got a receipt to claim back from you? or you give her an allowance for a certain period?
last month after she came i gave her $50 and told her it would be for her consumables for 3 months. today she tells me she need extra money to buy her sanitary napkins cos all her $50 was spent up already. :!: am i giving her too less?
i have no idea about the price of those consumables cos we are in singapore for just half year. we brought over quite a lot of those consumables from US and up to now we are still using them without buying new ones. so please give me some ideas on how to manage this situation. many many thanks.

hi tanama,

MOM requires us to provide her with toiletries but never indicate brand. Usual standard is for employers to buy and just pass to her. And where the maid desires a particular brand, she will have to pay for it herself.

$50 is a lot - shampoo maybe $12 for big bottle, body wash also $12, toothpaste $3. What the heck did she buy? FYI, I understand from my agent that we only need to give her the basics - things like conditioner, moisturizer is on her own tab. Then again, an employer can always choose to give.

I don't think giving her money direct is a good idea as the money could have gone into handphone or other stuff - how to prove that she did use the money as intended?

Anyway, for now, guess you don't have much option but to buy the napkins for her. Just inform her that YOU will buy and just pass to her.

[NicHei]

I will buy and pay everything for her, except for her sanitary napkins and phonecards.

[hquek]

Also you may want to monitor her usage. My 2nd maid can finish one BIG tube of toothpaste in a very very short time. After that, I told her toiletries she pay…and suddenly she became very frugal and the tube of toothpaste could last very much longer.

[Hiccup]

Hi hquek and celtricia


Thanks for your advice!

Hi Tamama,

I will not give the helper money to buy her own toiletries. I will buy for them and pass to them. You can get 20 pcs of sanitary pads at about $1.75 from Venus, those shops specialising in shampoos & toiletries.