All About Full-Time Maids

[moom]

silverhorse:

moom:

Has anyone selected their maids from the online maid libraries? Quite a few around.. Are the descriptions mostly hogwash? Can be trusted? Descriptions a bit too good to be true leh..

Hi Moom,

I got my previous and current helper online ( netmaid library).
Descriptions are pretty accurate. The maids are represented by different agencies so you can check the database n agencies. Good Luck.

Thanks silverhorse..which agencies were your helpers from? The agencies any good? Notice that certain ones really paint a great picture in the biodata, while some seem more 'realistic' .. Maybe dependent on agency's staff creative writing skills.. Sorry.. I'm the cautious type

[vivienpg]

hi desertwind, I’m a FTWM. son is currently in full day CC and baby girl is taken care by MIL. So she just has to do basic housework most of the time. We did tell her that washing car is the least priority and she can do it just once a week, which we find it ok, as she is free most of the time in the early afternoon. My 6 mth old still wakes up at night but is attended fully by me, she does not have to wake up to attend to her, so I expect her to pay more attention to my son.


She is from Philippines and a college graduate but think she prefers to think more of herself. She just questioned me today under the new EMployment Agencies act ‘Fees charged to workers should not be more than one month’s worth of salary per year for the duration of the approved work pass or employment contract, whichever is shorter. This is subject to a maximum of two months’ worth of salary.’ So why her loan is a few months, she questioned. Headache, got to ask agency tomorrow…sigh…

[Peace Charlie]

Hi peapot


Guess the benefits r mostly towards the fili whereas indo thinks they could earn more but that was always not the case. Tis new indo guess was quite smart she knows her rights and her language was slightly much better. she can speak n express herself. Hope it goes well this time… changing of maid is really a big headache. n Exams r round the corner need to focus on the kids…thanks every1 4 their advise…

[hquek]

vivienpg:

She is from Philippines and a college graduate but think she prefers to think more of herself. She just questioned me today under the new EMployment Agencies act 'Fees charged to workers should not be more than one month’s worth of salary per year for the duration of the approved work pass or employment contract, whichever is shorter. This is subject to a maximum of two months’ worth of salary.' So why her loan is a few months, she questioned. Headache, got to ask agency tomorrow..sigh..

woah lau...shouldn't she have asked the agency BEFORE she signed on the dotted line? Faced with such question, I would pick up the phone and get her to talk to the agent if she not happy. Piangz...not as if you are making money out of it.

[hquek]

there was a comment that maids in hk have to pay for lodgings if outside. I’m not sure how true that is. I read some of their regulations and recall that employers have to bear cost of lodging (if maid stays outside), and if maids don’t eat at home, employers have to pay $x every day for their meals. So end up, quite good deal.


The only part where it’s different from Sg is that if the contract is terminated, maid must go home within a limited time period - so don’t think they can sit in the agency and wait for another employer.

[Peace Charlie]

Hi Hquek

New maid told me she had to share the hotel room wif her friends and they paid for it as well as meals outside tat’s why she could not save up enough to build a hse back home. moreover her employer will call her back whenever they cld not handle their own child… funny… tat is as good as not giving them off day… guess HKees paid for the lodging n meals for the fili becos they noe how to bargain n for those who do not noe the rules get eaten by the emplyers:(…duno how true… can only listen to half of their stories.

[LOLMum]

LOLMum:

middle income families, unfortunately, do live in very small flats (most cant even afford to buy private flats). but as both need to work, die die must get maid to look after kids especially during the school holidays (july - aug) and the many half terms..


so either the employers rent a room for maid to stay elsewhere or the maids pooled together the $$$ (employers usually pay an agreement portion while the maids come up with the rest themselves) and get an apartment to share.
i am unsure if this is allow in hk but the govt probably closed both eyes because the housing issue in hk is really really really bad and the govt knows it very well.

usually it is very easy for maids to find new job quickly cos dd is high.

[DesertWind]

vivienpg:

hi desertwind, I'm a FTWM. son is currently in full day CC and baby girl is taken care by MIL. So she just has to do basic housework most of the time. We did tell her that washing car is the least priority and she can do it just once a week, which we find it ok, as she is free most of the time in the early afternoon. My 6 mth old still wakes up at night but is attended fully by me, she does not have to wake up to attend to her, so I expect her to pay more attention to my son.


She is from Philippines and a college graduate but think she prefers to think more of herself. She just questioned me today under the new EMployment Agencies act 'Fees charged to workers should not be more than one month’s worth of salary per year for the duration of the approved work pass or employment contract, whichever is shorter. This is subject to a maximum of two months’ worth of salary.' So why her loan is a few months, she questioned. Headache, got to ask agency tomorrow..sigh..

OIC....thanks for clarifying vivienpg, in that case your expectation seems pretty reasonable.

As for her question about \"Fees charged...\" when reading I get the impression the clause is talking about \"expenses charged\" ie. medically expenses, utilities etc...(izzit?) or employment agency charges izzit? But such charges all borne by the employer mah, right? Anyway, I dunno...yes better to clarify with the agency!

[dasalo]

I've seen maids smoking at void decks these days. What would you do if you caught them smoking? Will you allow them to continue since it is their rights? If human rights prevails this should be condoned?

[Anna Ng]

I will send her back to agent (after getting a replacement)