Advice needed on mentally unsound maid
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icemochi:
:yikes: OMG! This is scary!how did u interview her?
my neighbour was killed 6 days after her kids engaged a mentally unsound maid. the maid was a minor.. -
Hi vodkababy, were you entitled to a free replacement in the contract? Most agents usually have this clause that if you are unsatisfied with the maid within the guaranteed period (number of months vary depending on agents), then you can return the old maid to the agent and get a new replacement. However, the catch is, you must allow her to be transferred. In this instance, you should not bear any cost if you have agreed for the transfer. If the agent decides to send back, then you should not be liable to bear the air tickets. You MUST however bear the air tickets ONLY if you chose not to transfer but to send back to Indonesia.
I’ve personally had experiences with both scenarios many years ago, both with different agents.
One I sent back directly to Jakarta as I didn’t agree for a transfer due to her behavior. The other, who was slightly mentally unsound, I decided to send back to agent. Agent said probably she wasn’t used to my family and if I wanted to give her another chance to try with another family. I agreed out of compassion. However, after 2 weeks, she was still unable to find an employer and the girl was still unstable emotionally and crying for her baby, the agent decided to send her back.
I got my free replacement at no extra cost (other than the miscellaneous costs like medical, insurance etc). Neither did I have to bear the cost of her air ticket.
Have a look at what your contract says again and have a word with your agent. Good luck… -
Dear All, many many thanks for all the advices and experiences shared.
Ice Mochi: I already spoke to MOM, regardless of the situation, I will need to bear the medical fees and flight expenses. It is a seperate issue should I need to settle with the agent.
Bzmum22: The agent sort of forcing me to make a decision at the point when I commented sending her back, I told them, if they want to let her have a transfer, by all means, but would they want to jeopardise other employers’ by letting have this kind of maid, the best is to send her back.
Happy Mama: I will make sure I’m not going to bear the flight. In actual fact, I even think I should not bear the medical fees at all. Look, if the agent keep a watchful eye on her and not allowed her to run to the embassy, all these additional expenses would not exist at all. It was their negligence that resulted in that. -
A maid who knows how to run away to embassy is in my humble opinion of a very sound mind, in fact, so street smart that she can outwit the agent. In mandarin, bu jian dan! :yikes:
Otherwise, the agent is really bodoh :stupid: -
Vodkababy,
you’ve got a PM. -
Vodkababy:
Happy Mama: I will make sure I'm not going to bear the flight. In actual fact, I even think I should not bear the medical fees at all. Look, if the agent keep a watchful eye on her and not allowed her to run to the embassy, all these additional expenses would not exist at all. It was their negligence that resulted in that.
Hi Vodkababy, I would not pay for the medical too, if I were in your shoes. -
It really depends on luck if you can engage a good maid, my overall experience with maids has not been smooth at all, and I’m quite skeptical in getting a new one.
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I don't think getting a good maid is just luck.
This person will be in your house - living with your family. You must take responsibility to ensure they are right for you.
Take the time to decide your priorities ( cleaning, childcare, cooking ). Do up a daily chores list and decide for yourself if it is reasonable.( Could you complete all the tasks if you were to do it yourself ? ) We would all love EVERYTHING to be perfect in our life but this is a dream - not reality and FDW's are only human. Make sure you take this list to the interview to show the prospective maid - do THEY think this is achievable ?
Create a list of questions to ask in the interview and take them with you when you interview to write down the answers given - so later you can compare. Think well about it - if you don't want a smoker remember to ask if they smoke. Ask them to read a page from a recipe book if your priority is a good cook ( or someone who can cook from a recipe
). Ask them when they last went home ? Is there a chance they may get homesick if they have not been home for a longtime - would you be prepared to allow phonecalls to their home. ( how many ? - let them now your answer ).
How many days are you prepared to give them off per month ? No one can work 24hrs a day or be happy with being 'imprisoned'. The fairer and more honest an employer you are should lead to a happier, healthier ( mentally and physically) FDW you will have. Think about if your employer changed the rules of your employment without your permission - how would you feel - what would this do to your employee/employer relationship ? If you are concerned about days off - set a time out and in and ensure that the FDW is aware that if this is not adhered to it is grounds for immediate dismissal.
The more effort you put in to choosing a helper will improve your chances of hiring a good one. If you decide on price alone - you are heading for trouble.
Remember FDW's are human beings not a commodity. Respect given is Respect returned. Ensure your directions are clear before you start and you are on the right track..
Good Luck and may you all find a FDW as good as mine. :rahrah: -
Hi Happy Chappy, thanks for the note.
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Dear All
Many many thanks for the valuable advice and concern.
My maid has already been sent back to Indonesia after being diagnosed as having "adjustment disorder".
I wanted to reason with the agency on the medical fees that we shouldn’t be penalised and was given the cold treatment by them.
They have proven to be so unprofessional in dealing with this matter. I went down yesterday, to ask about the police reports, any embassy reports, since all these have been involved. They told me they have nothing on hand which I find absurb, and told them I need to have all these documents, just in case this issue is brought up months later (though slim, but never know if that really happens) They just said don’t have and when I wanted to discuss the medical fees, they simply pass a cheque to me, without explaining to me how they derive at the refund.
I told them straight about that had the maid not ran away from the agency, all these extra charges would not have been incurred, logically I shouldn’t be bearing that. They "explained" that if want to send them back, embassy would have to be notified and should embassy decide to send the maid for check up, employers also will need to bear the cost.
I just don’t wish to argue anymore and left, but before I did, I simply commented "Don’t worry, I won’t introduce your services and will share my experience with everyone"
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