All About Full-Time Maids

[micollh]

dokomo:

micollh:

any idea how's the indon maid supply and salary like now?

Last when I enquired about fresh maids from indo was between $420 to $450... that was in Dec. Don't know about this month. But must visit many agencies, may get $400 or $410. Not sure about rates for experience maids though...

i prefer fresh maid..shall check with maid agency again, sometimes i find maid too long with us , too familiar with our lifestyle has good and bad sides.. i still toying with going maidless.. but scared i cannot cope.. sigh..

[homeworkmummy]

My Indonesia maid has asked me to buy her a radio using her salary. She has just completed her loan. Is it advisable to get a radio for her?

[POA Teacher]

homeworkmummy:

My Indonesia maid has asked me to buy her a radio using her salary. She has just completed her loan. Is it advisable to get a radio for her?

I don't see any problem with that. But maybe might have to limit her use of it eg only when she's alone at home. If she's alone at home most of the time, it's boring for her.
I give my maids a radio to use. My previous maid used to dance to music on the radio. My current one doesn't turn it on.

[moom]

homeworkmummy:

My Indonesia maid has asked me to buy her a radio using her salary. She has just completed her loan. Is it advisable to get a radio for her?

We provide a radio for our maid to use in the kitchen or in her room when she is resting. I think it helps to break the monotony of their work. I have no issue with her using it while we are home either. Don't really see any potential of abuse of this 'privilege' really.

Unless she wants to bring it with her when she leaves, maybe let her use an old one of yours? Or you could reward her with one if you are happy with her. It's not expensive, and i feel it makes for a more enjoyable working envt for them.

Just my 2 cts

[24hr-mum]

but b prepared she may play songs or cds in her native language or channel. i used to play eng channel for my ex maid. then she start to dance n sing aloud. n one day she use my player to play her own cd wfout askg me first

[hquek]

I gave current maid a radio to keep in her sleeping quarters. She has plenty of free time. Figure it is better for her to listen to music than stare blankly at 4 walls. But one may want to set some boundaries, eg using it only after chores are done. No blasting at unearthly hours.

[nms1]

Our maid uses an old one of ours with a broken CD player. She listens to it when she’s doing ironing or other work in her room and after she had finished at night.

[beanstalk]

A radio’s good. It gives her some entertainment and keeps her company when she’s working alone. Feel you should give or lend her one. It’s not worthwhile buying a radio, especially on her salary. Also, since phones have FM on them, it’s not really necessary to get a standalone radio these days.

[DesertWind]

We bought our maid one radio for her use in her room when she first join us. Then we put another one which we won in some lucky draw at the kitchen so she could listen to it while doing chores. Sometime ago I found that she played the Malay/Indonesian channel quite frequently and quite loudly at the kitchen/dining area. There was a short period of time when she did it even when I was at home and around the house, seems a bit slack on her part ie. like she own the house and disregard my presence. So I told her directly that I don’t like it and when I am not around the house, she is to strictly just play the CHINESE channel especially those with DJs talking so that my kids can be immersed in a Chinese speaking environment! Not even English channel. Furthermore, strictly no headphones, earphones. She is free to listen to whatever she wants in her room after she retires for the day. I have to be very specific to her since I am not around the whole day and she is the only one with the kids at home.

[homeworkmummy]

Thanks all for sharing your experience. I am hesitant giving her a radio because my ex-maid asked me for a MP3, I bought one for her. At first, she only used it at night. But after a few months, I noticed that she kept going to toilets very often and each time lasted at least 10 to 15 minutes. We found out that she has been going to toilet to listen to her MP3. So for this maid, I have become more careful. I will probably learn from some of you, look for a used radio (without any hand phones) and give it to her. I am still thinking if I should be keeping her radio during the day and only pass it to her at night after she finishes her chores but again it’s a hassle for me as well. Just worried that she will be "addicted" to listening to radio and become slackened as she loves to sing when doing the housework.