All About Full-Time Maids

[DesertWind]

Admummy:

when i gave one set of instructions to my helper; my hubby gave another set

in the end, the maid think i more stupid coz my instructions are more detailed and involved my steps...now she think m'am is stupid and doubt my instructions...so piss with my hubby...where do i stand now?!!!

To prevent quarelling with hubby, pre-agree on one set of instructions then tell the maid. Recently same situation happened to me. Maid told hubby to call me since both give conflicting instructions. We discussed and compromise first then tell maid what to do.

[DesertWind]

la_paix:

nms1, You are my first encouragement. Thank you.

Sure got more cons... am I able to survive? Can more mummies share your experience?

Hi la paix,
Why you don't let maid bath your kids/wash hands but let the CCC teachers do?
Anyway, for me I have 2 boys 1 yo and 5 yo and FTWM.
No support from parents from either side.
I sure cannot cope without a maid.

[DesertWind]

Hi peapot,


Dunnoo what to say. So long as your DD in her hands, you will need to continue to kowtow to the maid and she will continue to show long-face because she knew she can! Unless meanwhile you can perhaps park your DD (how old?) into student care temporarily or parents/in laws can help keep a look out etc…Really not a comfortable situation. I actually will think you should not keep this old maid too long if her attitude is going to be like that. Once new maid come old one got to go already.

Earlier this year I also told my mother’s maid to go back earlier by about 3 months. She was suppose to go back end September this year but she told my maid that by August she will be going home because of Hari Raya. My maid feedback to me and I was like ??? because she did not tell me.

Anyway, I asked her was it true she wanted to go back in August she said yes.
Then in Mar/Apr this year when the newspapers announced the change in maid rule from Indo, I called my agent who advice me to quickly get a new maid in by end April before the new rule kicks in. Once we confirmed that MOM has approved and the new maid is confirmed coming, I then talk to the maid already to pre-empt her.

I also a bit wary of her reactions because early by 3 months from her target date. [My mother kept asking me whether we need to compensate her for 3 months pay since contract not yet due? I was also prepared to pay her max 2 months if it turns out ugly.] I told her due to the new govt. rule very expensive if I wait till August so she needs to go back early in May hope she don’t mind. Told her to get ready inform her family to expect her and think about what she wants to do to get ready to go back etc. Ended up she went back 2 weeks later when the new maid came in early May. Gave her the full month pay of May.

Turned out maid told me she understood and its OK lah since it will be cheaper for ma’am to take new maid earlier! During the 2 weeks, word got around she was leaving and my relatives gave her ang pows and she informed all her friends and buy/pack whatever she wanted. She went home nicely and even called back to inform us she would be getting married soon!

[PS: On side note, my mother has also treated this maid with kids-glove because she took care of my father and nursed him back to good and stable health. But this year she ROD mood already, also got a bit rude sometimes and disappearing whenever my mum was not at home leaving my father alone hence not too happy with her. Once confirmed she was going home, she sprang into action with renewed energy. The truth be said - if this maid was very good, do you think me/my mother will early release her? No right? But this maid still very young. Perhaps 20 years later she may think back on us and then realize that this early release may not be so rosy after all.]

[Divamama]

Hi all, I’m hiring a full time maid for the first time and would like to ask about the rates of transfer maids. I’ve gone to many agencies and it seems like the average is $500 plus all Sundays off? I don’t mind giving the maid her Sundays off but I find that the salary is very high. Some even asked for $600-700.


I’m really taken aback. The problem is, I did have a filipina maid for 3 weeks but I sent her back to the agency due to her terrible work and habits. This maid had been in SG for 7 years, record was good, and interviewed well. But she couldn’t do proper housework or she couldn’t be bothered. Just taking advantage of my leniency.

So now I’m stuck tothe same agency with limited choices of transfer maids. Sigh so disappointed and stressed cos I’m delivering next month and really need help with my toddler and soon to be newborn. can anyone share with me your experience with your transfers? And how much their salary is? We paid $550 to the maid but felt really cheated given the low quality of her work.

[straffan23]

Divamama: I emphatise with your situation. I was in similar situation when I tried to get a maid 2 months before my #2 was born. After a month or so, I decided to send her back to the agency, and told them that I would wait until a suitable one comes along. In the end, the new maid came a week after my son was born.


Just to share, big part about having a new baby at home is making sure that the mommy is eating well. The rest is cleaning. If you have a confinement lady, these two areas would be well taken care. And even so, after your confinement, you just need to concentrate on two things - feed yourself (and rest) well, and take care of your baby. If you breasfeed, there’s no nonsense about washing bottles, etc. Use wet wipes and disposable diapers. Appreciate your private time with your baby. The westerners do this all the time - only us spoilt asians need confiment ladies, maids, etc.

If you have a maid, it could be a bonus. If you don’t, it’s okay. Take your time, find one that you are comfortable with, and you should be off to a better start. Unfortunately, you do need to be prepared to for out $500 min.

[Dawnie]

I don’t really like to hire an experienced maid. Their expectations and salary are higher. My friend just hired a fresh Filipino maid for $400 a month, additional $20 for no Sunday off.


My current maid of 5 years is getting $450 with 1 Sunday off. My maid was ok for the first 2 years, but now, she pissed me off every single day. Attitute is bad, lazy, disorganized, etc. I am contemplating if I should end her contract and get a new one. I am just afraid that a new maid may be worst off.

[Divamama]

Thanks ladies. I’m not hiring a confinement nanny cos my mom insisted on helping. She’ll probably cook for me and my toddler, and I hope breastfeeding will go smoothly with my second baby too.


My main concern is how I’ll take care of my toddler and the housework. My 2-yo daughter is not going to school till next Jan and she’s very jealous of her baby sister already. My mom has no patience with my daughter and she doesn’t help out very much with the housework too. Plus my husband is traveling very frequently and I can’t count on him to do much. Stress.

Was counting on hiring an experienced maid who can take care of my daughter, at least keep her occupied while I take care of my newborn. But I never imagined that maids are so demanding nowadays. Treating them well only resulted in being taken advantage of.

Sigh, don’t know if I’ll ever find help. I salute all mothers who did everything single-handedly.

[nms1]

Divamama:

Hi all, I'm hiring a full time maid for the first time and would like to ask about the rates of transfer maids. I've gone to many agencies and it seems like the average is $500 plus all Sundays off? I don't mind giving the maid her Sundays off but I find that the salary is very high. Some even asked for $600-700.


I'm really taken aback. The problem is, I did have a filipina maid for 3 weeks but I sent her back to the agency due to her terrible work and habits. This maid had been in SG for 7 years, record was good, and interviewed well. But she couldn't do proper housework or she couldn't be bothered. Just taking advantage of my leniency.

So now I'm stuck tothe same agency with limited choices of transfer maids. Sigh so disappointed and stressed cos I'm delivering next month and really need help with my toddler and soon to be newborn. can anyone share with me your experience with your transfers? And how much their salary is? We paid $550 to the maid but felt really cheated given the low quality of her work.

I would suggest that you try again for another week or so but if you don't find anyone, wait until after the baby is born. Even though you are a 2nd time Mum you won't want to be training a new maid while you are settling in with the new member of the family. If you aren't having a confinement lady, hire a part-time cleaner, cook as much food as you can now & freeze it, find volunteers to entertain your toddler while you take a break & make sure your husband is ready to help. If you will be going back to work after the baby is born, start to look again once your confinement is over.

All my maids have been transfers and I've hired them all on the basis of gut instinct - they just felt like the right one. And I've been very lucky so far. If you find it tough to interview, bring her back to meet your mother/mother-in-law or someone else you can trust. A good agency will allow you to do that; you can also then see how she interacts with the children.

[KSmom8]

My maid has been rude, slacking in her chores, ignoring to help out with my DS2. Finally arranged for a new maid to come in 2 weeks time, current maid does not know. Recently, agent advised her to do her job well till her contract expires ( she does not want to continue anyway ) so that I will agree to buy an air ticket ( more expensive ) to an airport nearer to her home, instead of what is stated in contract. She seemed fine and was quite happy cos i had bought a gift for her that day. However, the next day, she was so ill that she had to lie in bed. Brought her to doc, blood pressure was ok, no fever, no ear inflammation, she complained of giddiness. Doc said could be middle ear imbalance, could occur after a bout of flu…but she did not have flu previously. Anyway, decided to give her benefit of doubt, cos there is no physical sign for this ailment. She lay/ slept in room most of day, for 4 days!!! Seemed well enough to do minor chores that needed to be done urgently, and during those times, she would seem ok, and then at other times, she would just lie down. On the 5th day, she decided to rearrange the cleaning schedule…she only vacuum floor and did not mop, hang laundry from washing machine… took her bath about 9am ( supposed to be around 7am ) which is around the same time as my DS2 bath, and went to bed thereafter at around 10am. This effectively meant that she had no intention of helping with preparing DS2 for school or with heating up his lunch! On the previous day, she also took a late bath but at least she helped with heating of food for lunch and rested after we had left for school. I was so mad that just before I left to send DS2 to school, I told that if she was so ill, I would need to send her to hospital. However, since I had no time, Sir would do it or Agent will send her, then I stormed out of the house. Miraculously, when i returned, my maid was up, offered to help carry groceries, prepared food for dinner and was ok for the rest of the afternoon and night ( though she did not keep the laundry ). I learnt that sometimes I need to lose my temper at the maid…normally I will try to keep cool and discuss things over with my maids. I now think no need to be nice, otherwise maid will makan employer. Just hope that it’s the end of her giddy spells and lying down to rest… Don’t think I can tahan for 2 more weeks ( already bought her air ticket and to her destination of choice! ) Hubby thinks that I should send her home immediately, but DS1 in midst of exams so an extra pair of hands would be helpful and I don’t want to waste the air ticket …however, if she decides to be "unhelpful" again, then it will be so stressful again. Any advice?

[Shiroi Ryuu]

For all employers of Domestic Workers in Singapore, just an update for those who are too busy with work and didn't managed to catch the news.


On Wednesday, 18th July 2012, 11th case of maids felling off high-rise building.

I did a relevant blog post, and so maybe interested personnel would like to find out more on their own.

http://shiroiluke.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/11th-case-of-a-domestic-worker-falls-to-her-death/