All About Full-Time Maids

[beanstalk]

Maybe the fees refers only to the local agency’s fees. Perhaps the rest of the cost is for the agent in her home country?


Yes she should question and clarify this. A few months’ salary is a big deal.

[Chu Liu Xiang]

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..

If I were you I'll just call the agent and then let both of them talk. Tell your maid to ask ALL the questions she needed of the contract so she won't trouble you anymore......simple lah.

[vivienpg]

hi all, we called the agency yest and the lady told my hubby that this is the 1st time got maid so daring to question such thing. Cos we told the maid we are going to let her talk to the agency and the maid said she dnt like to talk to the agency, she wanted us to help her contact MOM to talk to the agency?! We told her this is as good as ‘complain’ and she said it isnt complain, it is to ‘clarify’ and she said she has an MOM evelope which MOM give to all maids, meaning she is thinking of writing to MOM la. Anyway, we said no, you have to talk to the agency first. The lady at the agency however, told us to call tomorrow, as the people who recruited the maid only works on weekdays.


Sigh…anyway the maid goes on to tell me the work here is tough and that she dont have to mop her floor every day at philippines, she mop as and when she like at her ctry?! She said our 5 room flat is too big and is considered an condo at philippines? I asked her to think why she is here in the first place and ask her to think whether she still want to continue. We are not going to be the one to ask her to leave if possible, cos there is penalty if we do that within 3 mths, and this is only her 3rd week…sigh…

[peapot]

Work 3 weeks only she already so much grouse. How to last ??

[vivienpg]

Precisely loh…now we are waiting for her to throw the towel, dnt think she can last and frankly speaking, I think she is too pampered loh… This whole day pretend to be busy when nothing to do, so that she can dont wash car…sigh…really sian to have such a maid

[LOLMum]

why should the employer be involved in the monetary issues between the maid and the agency?


that is also why i dont understand why the employer has to pay the loan for the maid and then deduct it from her salary. many conveniently forgot their loan and only know that they are not getting paid for so many months.

[peapot]

vivienpg, the problem is now supply very low. I m increasing my maid’s salary to $450 but she told me yesterday she wants $500 and she is only renewing for 1 year. Ontop of that she wants 1 month bonus because she never go home. I m actually fine with this except she only extending 1 more year leh. 1 year pass very quickly you know. Sigh! I called my agent and she told me ex-sin maid very few. Only 1 ex-sin in a month. Demand is more than what she can supply. She asked to try the bigger agencies but should I when they gang up to trample the employers???!!!

[LOLMum]

my sis’s maid is thinking of leaving too and i did a check on supermarket notice boards and there are maids looking for new employers but mostly asking for expats.


also those at lucky plaza also want expats.

[peapot]

what is the reason that your sis’s maid is leaving? Also because going HK or Taiwan?

[LOLMum]

she has been attending a nursing course (apparently quite a no. of maids attending) for about 1 year and wishes to change her job. we dont know how she is going to do so but she told us the organisers at her centre are trying to help her get a job blah blah blah. wed dont ask her much about her activities on her day off.


anyway, she has been with my sis for many years and took good care of my late parents and handicapped sister. i know she feels bored as there is no one to talk to or much to do at home with just my sis.

we are willing to let her go even though we know it is very difficult to find another good maid. but who wants to be a maid forever right, so good for her to aim for something better.