Should maids be given a day off every week?

[LOLMum]

if i will to employ a maid, i dont want to be responsible for her loan and whatever mischiefs she gets into while working for me.


salary, working hours and day off are all negotiable.

[bigsnoopy]

LOLMum:

if i will to employ a maid, i dont want to be responsible for her loan and whatever mischiefs she gets into while working for me.


salary, working hours and day off are all negotiable.

My thoughts too but MOM seem to think differently. They are not protecting the employers.

[peapot]

Actually to solve all problems, just let the maid liable for anything that happens to them. Then we can give them every week. This will act as a deterrent. Of course if it’s a good maid and something happen through no fault of hers then employers may wish to help the maid out.

[Angelight]

I agree with u, peapot. A person (not just maids) will only be responsible for his/her own actions if he/she is made accountable for it, not other people.

[nms1]

I think the problem we face is that if the maid gets into trouble they are unlikely to be able to pay back any outstanding loan to their agent so the government passes this burden to the employer. Does anyone know how this works with those other work permit holders such as construction workers who owe money when they arrive?

[bigsnoopy]

I know they don’t really owe money to the agent. They actually borrow money or sell their house or farm to pay to the agent first before coming to Singapore. So the agent will usually allow them to go back if they insist as no money is owed to the agent. The work permit worker just return home to face all the debts. So they will usually repay their all their debts (first) before wanting to go home.

[Angelight]

Yes, this is also the arrangement used by foreign maids who want to work in HK or Taiwan. They pay the agent lump sum to go HK or Taiwan to work. So they are likely to work hard and not play punk cos they will have alot to lose. And if they are fired, they will be sent back to their country, no such thing as transfer to another employer. I think Spore shld adopt the same policy so FDWs will be made accountable for their own actions. JMHO.

bigsnoopy:

I know they don't really owe money to the agent. They actually borrow money or sell their house or farm to pay to the agent first before coming to Singapore. So the agent will usually allow them to go back if they insist as no money is owed to the agent. The work permit worker just return home to face all the debts. So they will usually repay their all their debts (first) before wanting to go home.

[LOLMum]

i think for maids working in hong kong, they take a loan from a finance company in hong kong. the maids will pay the loan themselves and it is not passed on to the employer.


but day off on public holidays and each week is compulsory there.

[nms1]

LOLMum:

i think for maids working in hong kong, they take a loan from a finance company in hong kong. the maids will pay the loan themselves and it is not passed on to the employer.


but day off on public holidays and each week is compulsory there.

But then if they get fired, what happens to the loan? Who will pay it back?

[LOLMum]

nms1:

LOLMum:

i think for maids working in hong kong, they take a loan from a finance company in hong kong. the maids will pay the loan themselves and it is not passed on to the employer.


but day off on public holidays and each week is compulsory there.

But then if they get fired, what happens to the loan? Who will pay it back?

from what i know, most maids will finish their contracts then look for another job.

for those who are unable to, will have to seek employment in another household. but no matter what happens, the loan is still the maid's problem and not anyone else.

so most maids there will do their best to fulfill their contracts. but note the domestic maids organisation in hk is very vocal, strong influence and they have staged protests etc. and have sued employers successfully for ill-treatment, nonpayment of salary, overwork etc.

thus employers there also keep to their side of contract.