All About Full-Time Maids

[DesertWind]

jennykhots:

....I do not install cameras but I do everything based on trust and genuine care. She gets an off day every mth since 3 years ago. Although last month, she did ask for an extra off per mth which I rejected as my 2 kids are in P5 & P3. But I agreed to an extra 4 off days per year which is reasonable as she can takes them on PH or during when we go on hols....


With regards to MIL or mother issue, I ve learnt that unless the maid comes into the household whereby the elderly is already the PR of your family. Otherwise if she is just a weekly or adhoc visitor, I think we shld tell her to zip her mouth.........

Lastly, I love my maid like a sister, I will buy her sweetdates for her fasting period, buy muslim food such as cow lungs, kueh kuehs, & even go library and loan books on her behalf, let her watch TV every Saturday for an hour, etc . Of course she loves my kids too..

Hope the above helps with those who are caught in between maids and MIL or mothers

Hi jennyknots,
Thanks for sharing.

I agree with the bit about telling MIL/mothers to zip their mouth especially if they are \"visitors\" indeed! That's what I told my MIL that if there is anything she is not happy with the maid, she can tell me instead of the maid! For eg. she once told my maid to clean off the crayon markings off my walls and ask her what is she doing most afternoons...sleeping???

I was a little horrified since I fully dependent on my maid to look after my son (and she did it very well!) and I specifically told her to give priority to looking after my son and not cleaning the house if she is not able to!

When you can get a good maid who can help you, no choice, you will just treat her very well. Likewise if MIL/mother can help us, we would have treated them very well too! But unfortunately when MIL/mother cannot even help us, too bad, don't come and tell my maid off and create trouble for our household since we are the ones who got to live with the maid!
:lightrod:

[DesertWind]

mlim650:

She just borrowed 2 months pay from me (pay till Sept) last month and now she is asking to borrow money again citing that her mother needs knee surgery. ....


To say the least.. she is not a good helper. But because of personal reasons I cannot dismiss her.

BTW, her contract expires March 2012.

Any advice? Thanks.

Hi Hi,

I ever loan my maid about 2 months of salary too and I did not like the feeling at all although she stayed with me for 4 years already! That was to pay for her daughter's stay in hospital for about a week.

During that 2 months tempers were short since she owed me money.

After that, I told her very clearly that I will not ever loan her more than 1 month again. Irregardless of what situation. So far when she went on home leave to build the house and want more money to pay the builders, at most I advance her that current month's pay. The rest she can otang, come back work for 2-3 months then remit money back again to pay off the builders or get another part built!

Long and short, take a stand and either tell your maid you will not loan anymore or at best just for one month. If you cannot terminate her now but don't want to be caught lending her money, this is what you should do. If she not happy she can walk off herself and then you can change maid!

My 2-cents worth!
:moneyflies:

[jennleeong.045113gmail.045113com]

Thanks Jollyme … I hv that agreement during our recent pp renewal where we had to go level 2 to do the contract signing. I can make that copy. But that insurance for th maid, she has to buy them herself in indo? Where should she go to get this done? I want to do the online application first bu how to get the login? All in bahsa!! I think my fdw will oso hv problem cos she already had to ask for help when filling up forms when we wen to renew her pp!!! Haha. Anyone can guide me along?

[jollyme]

hi [email protected],


My helper said she believed the assurance card can be obtained from the airport. However, she don't know if its chargeable.
I can't be sure whether the info. my helper gave is reliable cos she's still in Singapore, will only leave for hometown on 3rd week of August. Maybe other ks parents can help?

[mlim650]

Orangetommy:

Personal reasons suggests that she is blackmailing you, or has something over you. If that is the case it might just be worth paying her in advance and suggesting she visits her mother. Then you could just cut you losses and hire a new maid, perhaps through a reputable agency and make sure that this one has impeckable references.
Otherwise, if she has nothing over you then don't give her any more money. That is what I think anyway!

\"Personal reasons\" in that I may need her assistance later on due to some of the events she witness. I'm sure she know that I'm dependent on her and she is using this to her advantage. Hence I'm stuck in this delicate situation.

DesertWind:

Hi Hi,

I ever loan my maid about 2 months of salary too and I did not like the feeling at all although she stayed with me for 4 years already! That was to pay for her daughter's stay in hospital for about a week.

During that 2 months tempers were short since she owed me money.

After that, I told her very clearly that I will not ever loan her more than 1 month again. Irregardless of what situation. So far when she went on home leave to build the house and want more money to pay the builders, at most I advance her that current month's pay. The rest she can otang, come back work for 2-3 months then remit money back again to pay off the builders or get another part built!

Long and short, take a stand and either tell your maid you will not loan anymore or at best just for one month. If you cannot terminate her now but don't want to be caught lending her money, this is what you should do. If she not happy she can walk off herself and then you can change maid!

I guess I will go with the \"one month advance\". Actually if she is telling the truth then I won't mind advancing her salary to aid her mother's medical treatment. Unfortunately there is no way to tell for certain.

Thank you all for your advice.

[shine_fs]

jollyme:

hi [email protected],


My helper said she believed the assurance card can be obtained from the airport. However, she don't know if its chargeable.
I can't be sure whether the info. my helper gave is reliable cos she's still in Singapore, will only leave for hometown on 3rd week of August. Maybe other ks parents can help?

Hi,
My Indo maid decided to renew her 2 yrs contract. Her contract ends in Oct 2011. So, she is going back early for her home leave to celebrate her Hari Raya this month.

Will there be any problem in applying the KTKLN? The renewal of contract will be done after she come back from her leave.

Please advise.

Thanks

[ZuEn]

Lady Luck must be with me cos my mum hasnt been nagging at me about my maid recently.

While I was alone with my mum yday, I suggest that we go maidless at the end of the maid’s contract and we send both kids to CC. My mum was hestitant (see, she also grew reliance on maids lor). Then she went on to tell me that I shld take an INDO maid after this one bcos my Bro managed to get a not too bad one. Faint, she has seen us change enuff maids to recognise that good maids are like winning lottery, yet she made this comment.

And she is definitely double standard. I witness her giving instructions to my bro’s maid yday, which the maid didnt follow (bcos she didnt understand) but my mum didnt protest. I m sure my mum would have raised her voice if that was my maid. Boohoo.

[happy to be mum]

hi there


anyone with FTM that talk and talk alot? My DH stand is that maids should be allow to talk else they will be "kuku". I also agree but recently i really feel my Phinoy maid is talking so excessingly & it does bother me. Told her before, after telling will be okay then will be back again. thinking now whether to renew or not renew her, 50 / 50. She is a fast worker and can trust her with my kids alone.

My DH said she did no major wrongs so if I decide not to continue with her, not very fair but I know it will be difficult for her to change since we have allowed it already. How?

[nms1]

Mine is like that too - she’s just naturally very talkative which after 3 very quiet maids has been a bit of a shock. It does irritate me sometimes but my husband also doesn’t seem to mind - but he has the ability to switch off & not listen! I don’t think I would refuse to renew her because of it as I don’t really have any other complaints and it’s a small thing really.

[LOLMum]

happy to be mum:

hi there


anyone with FTM that talk and talk alot? My DH stand is that maids should be allow to talk else they will be \"kuku\". I also agree but recently i really feel my Phinoy maid is talking so excessingly & it does bother me. Told her before, after telling will be okay then will be back again. thinking now whether to renew or not renew her, 50 / 50. She is a fast worker and can trust her with my kids alone.

My DH said she did no major wrongs so if I decide not to continue with her, not very fair but I know it will be difficult for her to change since we have allowed it already. How?

for all my maids, i close one eye because they took good care of my kids (very very important). give and take is the way to go and since she did no major wrongs, just keep her and see how things go.

i prefer to keep a maid whom i trust and know well for long term than constantly change one over minor issues.