All About Full-Time Maids

[Chu Liu Xiang]

Hi All


Just to share

There're 2 methods to select a maid.

First method is tikum tikum or by chance or luck or whatever you want to call it. Some succeeded but many failed.

Second method is a scientific way and that means a systematic approach in the hiring of your maid. The HR of outside companies is definitely not going to tikum tikum by employing you, right? They've procedures in the hiring and screening of you starting from defining the need of your position in the company, your duties, responsibilities, reviewing your CV, interview, induction, training, promotion, punishment, rewards, career development.........exit interview etc. Even though procedures are there it's still not with its weaknesses since nothing is perfect.

However, as explained in my share analogy earlier on page 658, by comparing the 2 methods if you want to select a proper maid then you'll need to adopt the 2nd method so as to reduce the hassle, frustrations, time and energy spent in going over and over the hiring process.

A mix of the 2 methods is, of course, the best approach as explained below.

To get the proper hire depends on 3 parties - employer, agent and maid.

A good agent who can make good recommendations which, even using the 1st method, can get you the proper hire.

A good, sincere and willing to work type of maid can be your proper hire even without a good agent.

Lastly, some posters' positive approaches used like bringing the entire family along to screen the maid, asking specific and problem-solving questions regarding the job (not general questions) to test the maids etc. can be adopted too.

Note that if Indonesia really cuts off the maid supply (as in my earlier post) then don't you think it'll be wiser and smarter for employers to adopt a scientific approach (+ a bit of luck) then totally depending on luck (which doesn't work in most cases) in selecting a proper maid?

:imcool:

[hquek]

hi clx,


Thanks for expounding on your magic formula…but then, your suggestion

"To get the proper hire depends on 3 parties - employer, agent and maid."

A good agent who can make good recommendations which, even using the 1st method, can get you the proper hire.

A good, sincere and willing to work type of maid can be your proper hire even without a good agent. "

Very true. If only there is a scientific way to get a good agent, a good sincere & willing to work type of maid. Dun talk about agent, if the maid is good and sincere to work, I think many of employers here won’t be banging their heads trying to think how they can inspire the maid to work (rather than cry, or do her own things).

[Anna Ng]

thanks hquek

[Chu Liu Xiang]

hquek:

hi clx,


Thanks for expounding on your magic formula...but then, your suggestion

\"To get the proper hire depends on 3 parties - employer, agent and maid.\"

A good agent who can make good recommendations which, even using the 1st method, can get you the proper hire.

A good, sincere and willing to work type of maid can be your proper hire even without a good agent. \"

Very true. If only there is a scientific way to get a good agent, a good sincere & willing to work type of maid. Dun talk about agent, if the maid is good and sincere to work, I think many of employers here won't be banging their heads trying to think how they can inspire the maid to work (rather than cry, or do her own things).

Good agent...yes yes yes....I've read of postings here and elsewhere asking for recommendation of good agent. I believe many good samaritans have indeed recommended good agents here and elsewhere, no? Many have good agent recommendation through word-of-mouth from their friends/colleagues/relatives. The problem here is that many are 1st time posters while others don't follow the postings daily. That's why the question of asking to recommend a good agent always pops up.

As regards the maid no interview (same as outside companies) can tell a person whether he/she is honest, hardworking, sincere, not telling lies etc. So don't ask these during interview neither ask for recommending a maid with such qualities. Normally, no employers would want to give up a good a maid unless the situation demands it like e.g. a good maid may be taking care of an elderly but once the elderly passed away then the service of the maid is no longer required by the family. Another example would be a good maid taking care of children. One day the family would give up their good maid once they realize that their kids have grown up and are capable of taking care of themselves. The maid service is no longer required then.

In short, an interview can't determine the character and attitude of a person. Interview merely discusses the education, qualification, experiences, aptitude, duties, responsibilities, salary commensuration etc for a job.

Thats the reason why I said the best method is still a combination of the 2 methods i.e. approaching it in a scientific way through systematic hiring plus, hopefully, a bit of luck on your side. Let's say 95% of your hard work and 5% of good luck.

[Jav]

Anyone knows the procedure to change maid & how much more I need to fork out? My current maid of 3 months still has 3 more months of loan to be clear. If I am employing her replacement, do I get to carry forward her loan & top up the balance for the new maid loan? Pay for insurance again etc?

[verykiasu2010]

16 employment agencies fined for fixing maids' salaries


By Amanda Tan

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has fined 16 employment agencies $152,563 for collectively fixing the monthly salaries of new Indonesian maids.

The agencies - which include big players like Nation Employment and Jack Focus - were found to have flouted anti-competition rules by meeting in January to discuss a collective pay increase for new Indonesian maids, from $380 to $450 a month.

The agencies said the pay revision was aimed at easing a supply crunch for Indonesian maids.

CCS said it decided to take action because the collective pay rise would affect many families in Singapore who hire domestic helpers.

http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Break ... 18337.html

fixing the minimum pay is like a scam to fleece the employers and the maids, the number of months the maids got to work for 'no pay' to pay for the agency loan is still the same number of months, regardless of the monthly pay

[Chu Liu Xiang]

verykiasu2010:

16 employment agencies fined for fixing maids' salaries


By Amanda Tan

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has fined 16 employment agencies $152,563 for collectively fixing the monthly salaries of new Indonesian maids.

The agencies - which include big players like Nation Employment and Jack Focus - were found to have flouted anti-competition rules by meeting in January to discuss a collective pay increase for new Indonesian maids, from $380 to $450 a month.

The agencies said the pay revision was aimed at easing a supply crunch for Indonesian maids.

CCS said it decided to take action because the collective pay rise would affect many families in Singapore who hire domestic helpers.

http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Break ... 18337.html

fixing the minimum pay is like a scam to fleece the employers and the maids, the number of months the maids got to work for 'no pay' to pay for the agency loan is still the same number of months, regardless of the monthly pay

It's Judgement Day!!

These are the 16 maid agencies

•Arrow Employment
•Best Home Employment Agency
•Comfort Employment
•Crislo Employment Agency
•Crislo Resources
•Homekeeper International
•Jack Focus
•Javamaids
•JPB International Services
•Maid Management Services
•Nation Employment
•Net Resources Recruitment
•Nora Employment Agency
•SLF Green Maid Agency
•Swift Personnel
•TM Global HR Consultancy

Don't get maids from them

:spank:

[peapot]

I will not get maids from them for sure!! Fancy skimming off fellow Singaporeans like that. Luckily none of my past maid agency appears on the list.

[MandyMummy]

It is a good thing that these 16 agencies are being fined. But how will this affect the maid salary? It seems to have increased liao. Will this help to bring the salary down?

[peapot]

Thanks to them, the salaries will now be sort of a "norm". I pity those who has problem paying this salary and yet can’t do without a maid. The fine imposed is too little! If all employers stay united, we can make sure their biz will go down. If agencies can stay united to fix prices so can employers.