Advice needed on mentally unsound maid

[bzmum22]

Dun think you can check and find anything.

You can try to ask for documents on their medical checkups from your agent to see if there is anything there that could point to the issue. I know for Phils, they usually do one checkup back in their homeland before coming over here. But I doubt they will put down info on mental health.
Suggest you take it as bad luck and move on.
We employers are always at the losing end.

[mama_g]

Does SG’s medical check includes mental checks as well? So scary…

[1amber]

Last year I got a philipino - 1st week here very good. 2nd week here she started displaying wierd signs. We sent her back to agency. They tried transferring her. But she got worse so they bo pian but sent her home. I don’t think there’s a way to be completely sure.

[Vodkababy]

Thanks all for the advice.


I can’t reveal the agency now as I am still in the midst of investigation. But this is not a common/popular agency, and I can only mention they are at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre.

I interviewed her through the phone and she was ok. In fact, she only started behaving wierdly 2 weeks ago and kept asking me if I want to send her back, which I have no intention at all, and I even asked my agent to call and assure her. She asked me everyday then and got suspicious whenever I am chatting with my family. The last straw came when she scare my mother and had the cheek to laugh when I scolded her. I had no choice, but to send her back to the agency.

I was only informed yesterday by the agency that the maid is at the embassy. I questioned the agency on how my maid landed there and they started telling me that they realised she’s out of sorts whilst there and intend to send her back, but maid requested to go to embassy. I further questioned why wasn’t I being informed…etc…the next moment another story came with the maid actually ran away from the agency and went to the embassy herself and tried to commit suicide there. I was even furious as agent did not contact me at all and only when things start to turn worst, only then I was being informed.

They tried to push all blame to me, asking me to handle from there which obviously I would not do that since I had already returned back to the agent.

My maid was sent to IMH for assessment and thank god, she was just diagnos as "adjustment disorder" and not mental disorder. So the agent will be sending her back to Indonesia.

Now my question is am I liable for all the medical cost incurred during this while and also do I have to pay for the air ticket to send her back, as my inital intention was to return to agency who then decide to send her back.

[1amber]

I think you have to pay for the flight back at the very least.


Who sent her for IMH assessment? My ex-maid probably had that too. Agency told me she acted like she was sucking from a milk bottle during the time she was sent back!?!

[bzmum22]

How long hv you return the maid to the agent?

Look at your contract…find out for how long you are liable for the maid if you return the maid to agent for transfer. Usu is 14 days to a month. If past this period, return air ticket will usu be paid by agent or agent will ask maid’s relatives to pay. I’m not sure abt medical fees, but I have a strong feeling that you will hv to pay. Plse confirm with MOM.
Hugs to you.

[Vodkababy]

I send the maid back to agent only last Thur and told the agent that the maid wanted to return and change employer. Agent even told me she was acting normally when interviewed by other employers. She start to act wierdly after 2 days and agent is afraid she might influence other FDW and decided to send her back to Indonesia. That is when all the commotion starts.


My understanding that we will need to pay the medical fees (as she is still in my employment) no doubt I had already handed her to the agency, but it was the agent who decided to send her back to Indonesia, so they should not be penalising us for the flight ticket unless we are the one who wanted to. I told the agent yesterday, given the situation now, it is best that we send her back for fear of history repeating even she has been given clearance by IMH. But I am just upset that agent is now turning the tables on us and said now we are the one who want to send her back.

[1amber]

understand your frustration... :hugs:

[icemochi]

imho, u can write in again and again to MOM

till they reply to u.

maids are supposed to undergo a medical checkup before they come, and the IMH
report just proves that she is sick.
The agency has failed to do its job and now wants to push the liability to you.
MOM email:
[email protected]

[bzmum22]

Vodkababy:

I send the maid back to agent only last Thur and told the agent that the maid wanted to return and change employer. Agent even told me she was acting normally when interviewed by other employers. She start to act wierdly after 2 days and agent is afraid she might influence other FDW and decided to send her back to Indonesia. That is when all the commotion starts.


My understanding that we will need to pay the medical fees (as she is still in my employment) no doubt I had already handed her to the agency, but it was the agent who decided to send her back to Indonesia, so they should not be penalising us for the flight ticket unless we are the one who wanted to. I told the agent yesterday, given the situation now, it is best that we send her back for fear of history repeating even she has been given clearance by IMH. But I am just upset that agent is now turning the tables on us and said now we are the one who want to send her back.

Huh? You actually told the agent that? No wonder they turn tables and say you are the one who wants to send the maid home.
Negotiate with your agent lah....use a 'soft' stance, use their 'conscience', use their 'sympathy'. Worst case, if both sides also don't want to pay for the air ticket, activate maid transfer. And then pray v v hard that no one takes her :xedfingers: . You can leave trails in certain blogs/forums to warn people abt the maid.