All About Full-Time Maids

[peapot]

I think usage of Hp also depends on the family structure. If the maid is working in a hsehold with grown up kids then using the Hp with Internet access should be alright. But if the maid is caring for a new born then that’s abit risky. However experienced maid will interview the employer anyway. If the maid doesn’t like to care for babies, she will turn down the job.

[Chu Liu Xiang]

24hr-mum:

those rules are for very strict employers. its just examples. not everyone has the same rules in mind. some for instance dont mind washing underwear in washg mach but some mind.


as with all rules, the maid can always dont follow.

perhaps employers with maids who hv FB phones can share their experience. my experience is that once they hv FB its hard to control that addiction. yes they may use them only at nite, but then they will stay up so late at nite eg 1pm, that the next day they so tired, tend to grumble and shout at kids.

and since they hv own hp, why need to gv our hse number to their family ??
and then u may start to become their receptionist?

of cos, if the maid is a sensible one, in the first place, the maid can ctl their hp usage, sleep not too late, wont abuse their freedoom etc. but how many sensible ones are there??

IMO, the 3 issues I mentioned are strict. To every rule there's an exception so may be the rules should be re-phrased with some exceptions.

For using of hp with FB. Use of hp is only allow by the employer during the working hours. Use of hp is permitted during the rest hours and such use shall not become an abuse to the extent that work performance is affected. Here, whether she uses FB is immaterial now during her rest hours.

As for pay comparison with other maids it shouldn't be put as a house rule since the employer cannot control it. However, we can give sound advice to them by letting them know of the pitfalls when doing so.

The last item deals with giving out house numbers(s) to others. The issue is not whether the maid has a hp and they should use their hp instead. In my case I made known to my maid (and ex-maids) that her family is allow to call my house number but only on emergency condition. Not for normal chit chat and nobody else must call in. So far none of my maids' family has called my house number. Just tell her don't abuse your house phone number(s). Don't tell me you don't give your company phone number(s) to your family members to reach you in case of emergency too even though you carry a hp?

In all the 3 cases the employer must explain clearly, in details and with examples why she/he has written the rules (except case 2) as such.

:xedfingers:

[znzyzyzx]

这叫得寸进尺

Chu Liu Xiang:

LOLMum:

Maids to protest if $4,000 wage not met

Diana Lee (The Standard)

Monday, May 23, 2011

Leaders of eight associations warned yesterday they will escalate their protests if the minimum wage of domestic helpers is not increased from HK$3,580 to \"at least HK$4,000.\"

The Asian Migrants' Coordinating Body, comprising unions of domestic helpers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka, said it will begin a campaign to collect at least 50,000 signatures from the more than 250,000 helpers in the city.

The body will also stage a protest outside the Executive Council on June 1, the opening day of the 100th session of the International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where some of its representatives will speak about the situation in Hong Kong.

Before the government's annual wage review for domestic helpers can be completed - which is expected in August - the group will mobilize thousands of members to join the annual July 1 rally organized by the pan- democrats.

This will be followed by a massive protest on July 24 by the group to re- enforce its demand.

The group said the wage increase for domestic helpers is moving \"at a snail's pace\" when compared to the economic recovery and inflation rate.

\"It's high time the government gives us a real wage increase,\" said Eni Lestari, a spokeswoman for the group.

\"We are geared to fight to get an okay to our HK$4,000 demand. Enough of the feel-good and pathetic wage hikes. We need a genuine wage increase.\"

She added the cost of food and other necessities has increased 4.6 percent, making it hard for foreign domestic helpers to make ends meet.

Lestari said they will not rule out seeking a judicial review as they are excluded from the statutory minimum wage of HK$28 per hour.

Joseph Law, chairman of the Hong Kong Employers of Overseas Domestic Helpers Association, maintained an increase in wages to HK$4,000 would result in some employers refusing to rehire domestic helpers when their contracts expire.

\"Our survey supports a wage increase of about 2.8 percent, after considering the wage increase for Hongkongers in general is between 1.5 percent and 3.3 percent,\" Law said.

I can see problem coming soon. First they asked for PR status and now they ask for rise in minimum wage.

This pattern will be duplicated here if it's successful in HK. Now, they're asking for more dayoffs per week. Next will be dayoff for holidays, rise in minimum wage, PR status etc and all will be supported by NGOs, the Archbishop, foreign news and reporters, our Ministers here

:stompfeet:

[24hr-mum]

the problems wif gvg maids privileges is they often ask for more.

my exmaid was good, but after wf us for four years, she started asking for me to provide domestic flight even tho in the past she always paid for own domestic trip by BUS herslf.

another eg, tho she uses only hp at nite when she came, she has started to use them tho just sms but also FB, during the day after major chores are done, but in the past she used to use those small pockets of time to wipe my cabinets, clean my dryer, shelves, shoes, etc.

she used to sleep in the store rm when she first came in my old hse (i had no choice cos my inlaw was staying wf me then). she had no complaints - just a mattress on the flr in the small store rm and there were some of my things there

aft i moved to a flat, and my mil moved out, i gave her a room, tho still wf some of my thgs there

now, tis yr i shifted to a small apt, cant afford a rm for her cos NOW my young kids have grown up and needed own rm.

so i let her sleep in bomb shelter (really no choice but i gave her a fan etc)i . this time, she complain that things may tumble on her if there’s an earthquake, she nvr heard got maid sleep in bomb shelter etc etc etc

another instance, when i was in a flat, she used to wash my DH car - only when he was overseas - when the car was parked in open carpk. usually we try to park downstairs in front of our blk, but occassionally had to park at nx blk cos no space. she was asked to wash car only on the day before DH return from overseas. (sorry i cant drive, so i cant drive the car to wash),

she was ok until one day, she complained, when the car was parked nx blk, that "its very far right??"

and even tho she looked aft my no 3 as a newborn 4 yrs ago, when she asked for transfer, she said she dun want to look after newborn. sigh…

so u see. …if u are not strict, by the time u want to be strict and take away their freedom when u realise they abusing it, its too late, they not happy, u also not happy, esp for old birds

[Chu Liu Xiang]

24hr-mum:

the problems wif gvg maids privileges is they often ask for more.

my exmaid was good, but after wf us for four years, she started asking for me to provide domestic flight even tho in the past she always paid for own domestic trip by BUS herslf.

another eg, tho she uses only hp at nite when she came, she has started to use them tho just sms but also FB, during the day after major chores are done, but in the past she used to use those small pockets of time to wipe my cabinets, clean my dryer, shelves, shoes, etc.

she used to sleep in the store rm when she first came in my old hse (i had no choice cos my inlaw was staying wf me then). she had no complaints - just a mattress on the flr in the small store rm and there were some of my things there

aft i moved to a flat, and my mil moved out, i gave her a room, tho still wf some of my thgs there

now, tis yr i shifted to a small apt, cant afford a rm for her cos NOW my young kids have grown up and needed own rm.

so i let her sleep in bomb shelter (really no choice but i gave her a fan etc)i . this time, she complain that things may tumble on her if there's an earthquake, she nvr heard got maid sleep in bomb shelter etc etc etc

another instance, when i was in a flat, she used to wash my DH car - only when he was overseas - when the car was parked in open carpk. usually we try to park downstairs in front of our blk, but occassionally had to park at nx blk cos no space. she was asked to wash car only on the day before DH return from overseas. (sorry i cant drive, so i cant drive the car to wash),

she was ok until one day, she complained, when the car was parked nx blk, that \"its very far right??\"

and even tho she looked aft my no 3 as a newborn 4 yrs ago, when she asked for transfer, she said she dun want to look after newborn. sigh..

so u see. ....if u are not strict, by the time u want to be strict and take away their freedom when u realise they abusing it, its too late, they not happy, u also not happy, esp for old birds

Aiya, when the maid was new she's very hardworking one. After sometime, through experience and exposure, they'll slacken in performance. Just like us in work also, right? That's why I mentioned before using quarterly/bi-annual performance appraisal is one way to ensure she stays on her toes. The other thing is to get your other half involve. Maids, being females, would prefer to listen to the master of the house rather than the lady of the house. Believe me.

Sometimes the maid may be tired of doing the same things over for so many years while others may want a change in environment.....just like us mah....job hopping you know.

If after trying your best (with your hubby) by talking with her she really has no intention of staying then just have to let her go lor.

Employ a new maid and make sure you don't commit the same mistakes from the lessons-learnt

[nms1]

Chu Liu Xiang:

24hr-mum:

the problems wif gvg maids privileges is they often ask for more.

my exmaid was good, but after wf us for four years, she started asking for me to provide domestic flight even tho in the past she always paid for own domestic trip by BUS herslf.

another eg, tho she uses only hp at nite when she came, she has started to use them tho just sms but also FB, during the day after major chores are done, but in the past she used to use those small pockets of time to wipe my cabinets, clean my dryer, shelves, shoes, etc.

she used to sleep in the store rm when she first came in my old hse (i had no choice cos my inlaw was staying wf me then). she had no complaints - just a mattress on the flr in the small store rm and there were some of my things there

aft i moved to a flat, and my mil moved out, i gave her a room, tho still wf some of my thgs there

now, tis yr i shifted to a small apt, cant afford a rm for her cos NOW my young kids have grown up and needed own rm.

so i let her sleep in bomb shelter (really no choice but i gave her a fan etc)i . this time, she complain that things may tumble on her if there's an earthquake, she nvr heard got maid sleep in bomb shelter etc etc etc

another instance, when i was in a flat, she used to wash my DH car - only when he was overseas - when the car was parked in open carpk. usually we try to park downstairs in front of our blk, but occassionally had to park at nx blk cos no space. she was asked to wash car only on the day before DH return from overseas. (sorry i cant drive, so i cant drive the car to wash),

she was ok until one day, she complained, when the car was parked nx blk, that \"its very far right??\"

and even tho she looked aft my no 3 as a newborn 4 yrs ago, when she asked for transfer, she said she dun want to look after newborn. sigh..

so u see. ....if u are not strict, by the time u want to be strict and take away their freedom when u realise they abusing it, its too late, they not happy, u also not happy, esp for old birds

Aiya, when the maid was new she's very hardworking one. After sometime, through experience and exposure, they'll slacken in performance. Just like us in work also, right? That's why I mentioned before using quarterly/bi-annual performance appraisal is one way to ensure she stays on her toes. The other thing is to get your other half involve. Maids, being females, would prefer to listen to the master of the house rather than the lady of the house. Believe me.

Sometimes the maid may be tired of doing the same things over for so many years while others may want a change in environment.....just like us mah....job hopping you know.

If after trying your best (with your hubby) by talking with her she really has no intention of staying then just have to let her go lor.

Employ a new maid and make sure you don't commit the same mistakes from the lessons-learnt

:goodpost: Some good points - we often forget that a lot of us do very similar things in our jobs and maybe our bosses are moaning about us slacking off drinking coffee, reading Kiasuparents, looking for better jobs etc. It doesn't make it right but we do have to remember that maids are human too and they will do exactly the same things as many of us do all the time. They aren't saints!

[LOLMum]

wrt the use of hp, i am sure many working adults use the hp during office hours for personal matters. we just cant tell if it is personal or biz cos’ he/she can always claim it is biz call. all biz calls do not have to be very formal right? especially when both parties have been working together for a while.


been to those small shops and sometimes you see the staff more interested in their calls than serving the customers.

[happy to be mum]

will you feel strange if your previous maid who has left you for another employer keeps on messaging you, sending her regards to ask how have you been?


my previous Phinoy maid left me 2 months ago due to some small issues. We let her go before we got another maid and I was left maidless and helpess for a short while. Now have another good maid (at the moment still good and hope continue to be good ;). Somehow can't help maybe my old maid is not too happy with her current employer or she regretted her decision to leave us?

[Chu Liu Xiang]

happy to be mum:

will you feel strange if your previous maid who has left you for another employer keeps on messaging you, sending her regards to ask how have you been?


my previous Phinoy maid left me 2 months ago due to some small issues. We let her go before we got another maid and I was left maidless and helpess for a short while. Now have another good maid (at the moment still good and hope continue to be good ;). Somehow can't help maybe my old maid is not too happy with her current employer or she regretted her decision to leave us?

I believe your ex-maid don't want to burn the bridge behind her, huh? If thats what her intention was then I say she's a smart girl.

[24hr-mum]

i think ur maid is either unhappy, or wants u to do her a favour nx time, or just wan a spare tyre. or maybe she really missed u all?? it depends on the circumstances leading to her dismissal.


for my ex maid, i msged her on a sat nite （she left on fri am) to ask how was she? she only replied on monday morning.

then 1 wk later she msged me to ask to speak to my youngest girl whom she loves most.

then few days later, she msged me wanting me to confirm her flight as she is going home leave that wkend, and also ask me to help her pay the agt for extra luggage, claiming to pay me back later. i aksed her to call the agt direct to settle
becos i feel she shd ask her new mdm to help me (take care of her) and also how is she gg to pay me back if she decides not to comeback?
part of the reason is also i want her to try asking her new mdm to help her, and see if she can get help so easily from angmohs, compared to asking me for help when she was under me. i helped her remit money anytime she wanted, buy phonecard, pad, etc., (as if i m her maid too). i may not pay her so much but all these favours are not what any employer will do…

the angmoh didnt even bother to come and pick her from my place on her day of transfer. true, she has two kids, have no car, but her hubby? when my maid first work for me, i took a cab to collect her from her ex boss plc.

my hubby sent my maid to her new boss plc, the new boss at first didnt even want to come down to pick her, wanted her to go up herslf.


anyway i guess, when ex maid msg u, they alway hope that u can help them some day…