Is $450 min salary now for all maids regardless of experienc

[michyms]

pink ribbon, I think $200 for an air ticket is reasonable to compensate her. Though I agree with Lynn that they should be specifying which airline she wants. And yes its inevitable that maids tend to compare alot. But I always remind my maid that when compared to the maid next door, she is in a good position, as she does not need to wake up in the middle of the night to feed babies, or look after old folks. She only does housework and cooking. My youngest son is taken care of by my MIL and my older 2 kids are in childcare. I thought she had a pretty decent workload and she gets her own room all to herself, 3 off days and her own handphone. Unless she wants to compare herself to those expat homes where she works only from 9am-7pm specifically. Then that’s too bad.

[Lynn2010]

Some maids think that expats are all good. Not that they are not but they are also humans and there are fair share of good and bad ones too.


One maid i interviewed who specifically does not want to work for expat anymore due to her bad experience. She gets all Sundays off, public holidays off but treated badly. Apparently eats different food from the employer, that is, when they go grocery shopping, they will buy her different (cheaper) food and her food will be placed in the fridge where they placed the dog’s food.

[michyms]

Lynn, that is also the feedback from one maid I know who went to work for expat. She also gets her own "housing" outside (employer rented room outside for her to stay), food allowance, and many off days. But she says she hardly feels like part of family. She is treated like a maid.

[Lynn2010]

May be it is the same family [unfortunately].


The helper i mentioned worked for me and now live in Melbourne, she married to an Australian 4 years ago :). We still keep in touch. Unfortunately i can't attend her wedding

[Pink Ribbon]

Lynn2010 & michyms,

Tks for all the advices. yup, think i will pay her the Garuda fair as she requested.

Another thing, I will like to check with you all regarding d maid passport expire. who should pay the fee ? Understand that if you ask the agent to do it for you, you have to pay a sum of s$400.00 (Indonesian passport) plus another s$100 for work permit fee !

It is ok for me to renew for her and pay for her to get her passport renew if she continue to work for me another 2 full years contract period. But how if one month down the road after we get her passport renew, she said she want to change employer and want to go back home blah, blah, blah, ?

Anyone encounter such a problem ?

[Fat Mama]

Pink Ribbon,


Actually you can renew indo maids passport by yourself. Renewal fees abt $50-60. Just collect and fill in the forms at the embassy. There is an interview for the employer as well regardless whether agent or self-renewal.

To avoid maid leaving after passport renewal, put down in writing and both parties signed that she must complete her contract or you will deduct renewal fees accordingly. That’s what I did as advised by my friend who is an agent.

[michyms]

Pink ribbon, I agree with Fat Ma Ma, get your maid to agree in writing that she will have to foot the passport bill herself if she doesn’t complete the 2 years with you.

[Pink Ribbon]

Hi, Fat Ma Ma & michyms,


In the case, I do it myself (which cost about S$40-50)and put down in writing that she will have to foot the passport bill herself if she doesn’t complete the 2 years with me, what is the amount that I have to put in writing? S$50/- or s$400.00 ?

on top of that, do I have to add all the compensation on airfare and 2 week pay and so on…

I am sure, she will also know if I do it myself it will only cost S$40-50 !

Frankly, she is very resourceful, and she ask around and know her right !

She told me she will continue to work for two years at the moment, but all the things she said, I felt is very unpreditable ! I only taking my chance. may be all she want is to get her passport renew first and work for you a few month and she can change her mind again… later ? only she know …

[mama of 2]

Just extend my Indonesia maid contract for another 2years. increase her salary from $340 to $380, pay for her passport renewal fee, Hari Raya and Haji off, Airticket for her home visit for 10days. Not fantastic on house work and cooking but patient and most important is she don’t mix around. Think nobody is perfect so decided to keep her for another 2years.

[Picolo]

mama of 2:

Just extend my Indonesia maid contract for another 2years. increase her salary from $340 to $380, pay for her passport renewal fee, Hari Raya and Haji off, Airticket for her home visit for 10days. Not fantastic on house work and cooking but patient and most important is she don't mix around. Think nobody is perfect so decided to keep her for another 2years.

That's quite similar to mine. Renewed my maid's contract for another 2 years in Jun. Adjusted her pay + pay-off compensation from $360 to $390. Paid for passport renewal/WP/insurance (better coverage)/air-tickets for home leave plus gave her Hari Raya time-off and she went back for 15 days' home leave. Bought lots of children clothes for her to bring back to Indon. This is the first time I didn't give the 1-mth variable bonus to my maid after 2-year contract becos her work is just so-so. Could be much better in cooking too etc etc.... but, she is patient with a pleasant personality. Too bad, her horsepower very limited. Would have considered a new maid with experience if not for the hike in new maid's starting salary and agency fee from April this year. Not worth paying more for newer maids who generally are less capable than those who came over years ago. The better ones have gone to HK and Taiwan.