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

[tamarind]

On the issue of off days, also note that many mommies do not have a comfortable job sitting down looking at a computer all day long.


Many mommies working as teachers, lecturers, doctors, engineers, sales staff, etc have to be on their feet all day long, which can be very tiring. Weekends are the only time that we can rest. If the maid has an off day every week, that would mean the mommies do not have any off days. It can be really tough for those mommies with very young babies, or 2 to 3 kids below the age of 5. It is very unfair for other people to think that they are lazy, just because they hope for some rest.

Those employers with elderly who are bedridden also cannot do without maids even for a day. I used to have an ex-colleague who depended on his maid to change his mother's diapers, and carry her to bathe in the toilet. He told me he simply could not take care of his mother without his maid.

For others who do not have the above problems, I really wish that they can try to understand the difficulties that other people are going through. Just because they can manage it easily does not mean that other people can also do the same thing. It is like telling people, \"I can earn over $10K a month, why can't you ? It must be because you are stupid and lazy.\"

I am really thankful that the government is much more understanding, read this news article :
No need for mandatory rest day for maids: Minister
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2008/06/latest-news.html

Quote from the article :
\"'Households that have for example disabled family members who require constant attention may find it difficult to release the FDW for a prescribed period every month. Therefore, allowing households the flexibility to work out an employment arrangement with their FDWs, including paying their FDWs for not taking their rest days, is a more sensible approach.\"

[3Boys]

And those who require a maid 24/7 for extenuating situations, like elderly requiring constant nursing, are likely in the minority. And even so, there are alternative solutions, and therefor this is a straw man argument and cannot be applied broadly to the majority of maid employers. Also, I do not believe that fatigue during a weekend is an excuse not to give the domestic worker at least some days off in a month. They are humans too, if you need a break a weekend every week, are the domestic workers not entitled an off day once a month or so?


I speak up for the maids (since I believe they are voiceless in this forum of indignant mums), although some would paint it as judging, it is not. But I do ask the hard question about it is right or wrong, and if your situation is more typical of the usual maid employer (working couple with kids), then I urge you to consider giving some days off to your maid on a regular basis.

[phankao]

3Boys:

Also, I do not believe that fatigue during a weekend is an excuse not to give the domestic worker at least some days off in a month. They are humans too, if you need a break a weekend every week, are the domestic workers not entitled an off day once a month or so?

I have no problem with maids taking sundays off, but my last 2 maids have had no interest in taking days off! And my current one has been with me for past 10 years already.

[tamarind]

My current maid has alternate Sundays off. When I asked her whether she wants every Sunday off, she said no because every time she goes on off day, she needs to spend money. She is a very mature and sensible maid.


Anyway, maids have all the freedom to choose whether they want to work with or without off days or not, no one can force them to work with no off day. Many maids are willing to work without off days and get a higher pay instead. I am glad that people in the government are smart enough NOT to make off days for maids mandatory.

[corneyAmber]

I agree, not all maids want days off. Especially those new to the country, they really have no where to venture during their off days, so giving them mandatory off days is in fact a burden to them. Since it is an employment contract, it would be good that off-day is maintained as a mutually-agreed term between the employer and employee instead of making it a compulsory item…I always believe different strokes for different people.

[phankao]

ksi:

I agree, not all maids want days off. Especially those new to the country, they really have no where to venture during their off days, so giving them mandatory off days is in fact a burden to them. Since it is an employment contract, it would be good that off-day is maintained as a mutually-agreed term between the employer and employee instead of making it a compulsory item.....I always believe different strokes for different people.

Actually it's compulsory in the contract for Indonesian maids. We sign the contract drawn up by the Indonesian embassy at each renewal of passport / work permit.

The only definite off day my maid goes though is Indonesian day and Hari Raya. And she goes at will in/out the house everyday anyway! Apart from the times she's definitely needed, lah.

[tamarind]

Usually the maid renews the passport when she has worked for more than 2 years in Singapore, before that, many maids agreed to work for no off day when they were employed.


It is true that the Indonesian embassy requires that employers give off day. However, I think many maids just lie to the embassy that they are having off days, if they don't mind to continue working for the same employer, if they have been treated well.

I know that many maids have a very easy job. I have seen maids who are supposed to be watching young kids in the playground, just ignore them and chat on their phones all day. Looks like they enjoy off days every day

I also know that many maids deliberately take their own sweet time to do work. They know that if they work very fast, the employer will load them with more work. So they pretend to work very slowly. I have even heard of employers who have to go home to wash dishes or mob the floor. These maids certainly do not suffer from fatigue, it is the employers who suffer.

The maids are really much more clever than you think they are. I have a collection of news articles about maids since 2008 in my blog :
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/

I advise employers or anyone who wishes to comment on maids to read every one of these news articles to learn more about maids.

[LOLMum]

if only siblings are willing to help out. each siblings take over a sun to look after parents (so maid could have day off) weekly. so main carer doesnt need to be 24/7 and employer could have some rest.


but for the only child, this is not a solution.

[Littlefly]

If the maid is pressurized not to have off-days but in fact they do - what makes one think the maid will stay on and suffer in silence over their 2 year contract term ? They will start to make their real desires heard, or opt to change employer or worse, take exit strategy to run away. Employers are the ones who lose out in the end if the maid loan is not cleared and still have to fund them air-tickets home. Not to mention the disruption in work / hassle to get a replacement. Many maids are alot street-smart these days than we think they are.


My maid told me she pick my household coz she does not want off-days as she ends up spending money and not saving up when she hangs out with her friends in her previous job. She started sending her full salary home but once she got off-days she end up sending only 1/3 of her pay home as she spurgled them on shopping and mobile bills. She told me she is more mature and sensible this round and would rather get compensated for not taking ‘offs’ so she can earn/save more money to take home this round.

Just coz some employers don’t give maids off-days do not make us lousy employers. i think it is very much on a individual needs basis between employer/employee and not broad based stereotyping.

[tamarind]

[quote]Just coz some employers don't give maids off-days do not make us lousy employers. i think it is very much on a individual needs basis between employer/employee and not broad based stereotyping.
[/quote]Littlefly,
I totally agree with you !

Many people think that maids are poor, silly village girls who can be easily bullied. This is definitely not true. In fact, employers are often cheated by the maids, and some don't even realize it.