Should maids be given a day off every week?
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I think should be implement the law no off day for the maid.Maids are like SAHMs.SAHMs have any leave or off day?.Maids jobs are easier than SAHMs work.They just take care the kids and chit chat on the phone all the time.They no need to worry about kids education.No need to collect information for the kids’ education.They have enough time to rest everyday.Construction workers working 7days as they earn more money and don’t waste the time.Compare with them maids are doing nothing.The govt allow one off day trigger many problem.Recently one maid left the house and abandon a baby.Police arrested her but two months only in jail.We need maid-free Singapore.
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There was this comment in the press about the quality of maids deteriorating with time. Actually, I think its the quality of the employers that has deteriorated.
My mum was a FTWM. She had one helper who came in once a week to help with cleaning and laundry, and a nearby nanny who kept watch for a few hours each day as the kids came home from school. Everything else she managed herself with my Dad and us helping out the chores. Now our SAHP’s can’t manage the household by themselves for one day a week? We are in serious trouble, aren’t we, and what will we expect for our children growing up in such an environment? Maids forever?
When I first hired my maid that many years ago, I was shocked that my maid asked for a SINGLE day off in a month…because I fully expected to be giving her an off-day every week. I got severely overruled by my MIL and DW on that issue though, but we are working towards once-a-week gradually, and they both are coming round to my point of view.
Yes, we as employers work harder than the maid, but shouldn’t that be the norm? And as I pointed out, how hard a maid works has no real bearing on whether she should have a day off or not. If you are not fully utilising your maid on the workday, perhaps you need to rejig her responsibilities or perhaps consider if you even need one. -
I think is not up to the govt to decide whether employers should give weekly or once a month off to maids. It’s a contractual agreement between the employer and maid. If the maid is not happy with no off or just one day off per month, she can reject the contract and find another employer who is willing to give her more days off per month.
Just like our employer, some gives 21 days leave a year, some 14 days and some only 7 days. It’s our choice to decide whether to accept the job knowing up front how many days leave we will have.
Maids are not stupid. They choose employers too. Some want more off days, some want to just manage hsework and do not want to take care of kids etc. We make it clear to them what their job scopes are and they can decide if they want the job. They have the right to choose, don’t they? -
tigger88:
This is not a matter of contract but a matter of policy and law. You may say caveat-emptor, but there are certain things under the employment act that are illegal and cannot be put into a contract. Employers are obligated under law to provide for certain benefits for employees. As this does not govern maid contracts, therefore, there is this situation where maid contracts do not necessarily build in days-off. The question is then whether the law should be changed to align it with other workers in Singapore. That is not interference in a contract, its setting a policy.I think is not up to the govt to decide whether employers should give weekly or once a month off to maids. It's a contractual agreement between the employer and maid. If the maid is not happy with no off or just one day off per month, she can reject the contract and find another employer who is willing to give her more days off per month.
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Some maids prefer to get more $ instead of day off so why need a law for this? Isn’t it better to allow them to choose whether they want days off or no?
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3Boys:
It is presumptuous to say that employers have deteriorated... there are households with possibly both or 1 parent who works 7 days a week... in these households, the maids are asked to work without off days (agreed before they came).. possibly to help the lone parent out, or to even help a grandparent or both grandparents out (if the kids are under gramps care)... or even caring for the kids on their own... there's just too many scenarios that can be possible... in such cases, do you say SAHP's cant take care of their kids? No... the fact is that not all households have SAHP for the wkends...There was this comment in the press about the quality of maids deteriorating with time. Actually, I think its the quality of the employers that has deteriorated.
My mum was a FTWM. She had one helper who came in once a week to help with cleaning and laundry, and a nearby nanny who kept watch for a few hours each day as the kids came home from school. Everything else she managed herself with my Dad and us helping out the chores. Now our SAHP's can't manage the household by themselves for one day a week? We are in serious trouble, aren't we, and what will we expect for our children growing up in such an environment? Maids forever?
When I first hired my maid that many years ago, I was shocked that my maid asked for a SINGLE day off in a month.......because I fully expected to be giving her an off-day every week. I got severely overruled by my MIL and DW on that issue though, but we are working towards once-a-week gradually, and they both are coming round to my point of view.
Yes, we as employers work harder than the maid, but shouldn't that be the norm? And as I pointed out, how hard a maid works has no real bearing on whether she should have a day off or not. If you are not fully utilising your maid on the workday, perhaps you need to rejig her responsibilities or perhaps consider if you even need one.
Would the so called \"policy\" work for these families or work against them??
Yes... there are references to OUR company employers.. but imagine this... if you apply for an overseas assignment... u agree to the terms... u were supposed to work there for a 2yr contract.. but you quit in a year.. what happens? You have to bear the consequences yourself and get your own ticket home. Even if you finish a 2year contract, you still have to get your own ticket home. Of cos, I'm talking about a scenario whereby you are not being expatriated in the job, but APPLIED for an overseas job of your own will. The conditions are different right? How about the maids? They don't bear any consequences... if they quit before the end of contract, they can just wait for a new employer (since they are protected)... and if they wanna go home after the contract is up.. the employers have to pay for them.
My point is... how to compare apple and orange?? Is it a fair comparison? All these are terms agreed upon before we even agree to have the agents bring them in. If you want off days, then don't agree to an employer's request for no off days.
There is no 1 policy that fits all in this maid-employer situation.. that's why I am also against implementing any law, and to leave it to be decided between maid and employer... -
Leaving it between employer and maids to work things out is the best policy.
With all my maids, we work out an agreement on a month by month basis depending on needs on both sides (employer and maid). Some months maids wanted time off (a few hours but more frequent outings). Other months they prefer all day out (9-9pm). Yet some times they want prefer weekday time off so as to be able to send money back without having to make a beeline at the bank on Sundays.
Sometimes they plain do not want to go out. In fact, many times my maid prefer to follow us and refuse the Sunday off. I believe after the initial period most maids will find it boring to sit around at Orchard Rd. My maids also said things are so expensive so they do not want to go out and spend money. I suspect only those who moonlight and prostitute themselves or have BFs will insist on weekly time off.
Some months, they need more money because gotta send money back so prefer no off days for cash in lieu. But most times, I am happy to give extra cash (over and above salary) and time off. I have also given daily rest time, free prepaid phone cards, gifts etc…
I believe most employers here know how hard it is to get a good maid and so if they find one they will work hard to keep the maid happy. At the end of the day, both parties are happy when they are given the freedom to choose.
Some of the forum writers should get updated on current affairs:
1. Maids are choosing employers, where employers stay, terms of contract (handphone use, days off etc)
2. Today’s family is different from that of your parents. Lifestyle has changed. School work is demanding. School CCA is demanding. Many single parent families.
3. Many employers work longer hours than before. Many employers (at least one of them) travel on business. Worse, in some families, one parent is stationed overseas.
These are significant changes in the social landscape of singapore. We cannot sit on a pedestal and be so judgmental of today’s employers. -
some forum writers still using the old tinted glasses from last century mah …how to see what you see
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verykiasu2010:
some forum writers still using the old tinted glasses from last century mah ....how to see what you see
True...they have never seen the maids at your neighbourhood and my condo. :celebrate: -
SMH FOREST:
:goodpost:
It is presumptuous to say that employers have deteriorated... there are households with possibly both or 1 parent who works 7 days a week... in these households, the maids are asked to work without off days (agreed before they came).. possibly to help the lone parent out, or to even help a grandparent or both grandparents out (if the kids are under gramps care)... or even caring for the kids on their own... there's just too many scenarios that can be possible... in such cases, do you say SAHP's cant take care of their kids? No... the fact is that not all households have SAHP for the wkends...3Boys:
There was this comment in the press about the quality of maids deteriorating with time. Actually, I think its the quality of the employers that has deteriorated.
My mum was a FTWM. She had one helper who came in once a week to help with cleaning and laundry, and a nearby nanny who kept watch for a few hours each day as the kids came home from school. Everything else she managed herself with my Dad and us helping out the chores. Now our SAHP's can't manage the household by themselves for one day a week? We are in serious trouble, aren't we, and what will we expect for our children growing up in such an environment? Maids forever?
When I first hired my maid that many years ago, I was shocked that my maid asked for a SINGLE day off in a month.......because I fully expected to be giving her an off-day every week. I got severely overruled by my MIL and DW on that issue though, but we are working towards once-a-week gradually, and they both are coming round to my point of view.
Yes, we as employers work harder than the maid, but shouldn't that be the norm? And as I pointed out, how hard a maid works has no real bearing on whether she should have a day off or not. If you are not fully utilising your maid on the workday, perhaps you need to rejig her responsibilities or perhaps consider if you even need one.
Would the so called \"policy\" work for these families or work against them??
Yes... there are references to OUR company employers.. but imagine this... if you apply for an overseas assignment... u agree to the terms... u were supposed to work there for a 2yr contract.. but you quit in a year.. what happens? You have to bear the consequences yourself and get your own ticket home. Even if you finish a 2year contract, you still have to get your own ticket home. Of cos, I'm talking about a scenario whereby you are not being expatriated in the job, but APPLIED for an overseas job of your own will. The conditions are different right? How about the maids? They don't bear any consequences... if they quit before the end of contract, they can just wait for a new employer (since they are protected)... and if they wanna go home after the contract is up.. the employers have to pay for them.
My point is... how to compare apple and orange?? Is it a fair comparison? All these are terms agreed upon before we even agree to have the agents bring them in. If you want off days, then don't agree to an employer's request for no off days.
There is no 1 policy that fits all in this maid-employer situation.. that's why I am also against implementing any law, and to leave it to be decided between maid and employer...
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