All About Full-Time Maids

[nms1]

straffan23:

Re: The maid's meals


My maid requests for her favourite 3-in-1 IndoCafe coffee with extra sugar. She usually have bread or toast with jam in the morning. She loves extra sweet so we stock up more on the housebrands for her, tend to me more sweet, and she can put as much as she wants. On the days that I actually ask her to buy or prepare breakfast, she will eat whatever we eat.

For lunches, she is usually the one at home with my son. I told her to eat whatever she cooks for my son, but she prefers to eat instant noodles. So I stock up on that as well. For weekends, if we eat at home, she eats whatever we eat; if we go out, I will tell her to go and buy her lunch/dinner. Otherwise, she ends up eating instant noodles again. She prefers not to dine out with us - extra work to take care of the kids, and she is afraid of pork/wine in the dishes. Leftover are kept for her next meal.

I have this principal. At best, she eats whatever we eat. The employer's responsibility is to provide adequate meals in terms of quantity and quality. But I think asking for freshmilk and cheese does not fall into that range - especially so if it is not a common item in the household. She will have to pay for it herself. If you continue this, wouldn't she be asking for sashimi and caviar when you dine out? Perhaps we are very simple and basic family - if my maid have more expensive tastes, I really will not care to finance it.

I think a lot if it depends on the norms in your family. To me fresh milk is not a luxury but an essential so I wouldn't see that as a problem and, as someone brought up on fresh milk I can't stand powdered or uht milk. Maybe that is something she regards as a basic but she may not want other things. I would say that if it's not a real luxury (like caviar!) then buy it for her. A small gesture can go a long way.

[DesertWind]

As for food, the maid should eat whatever we are eating too. She is free to help herself to whatever food is there but I think if maid start asking for things like cheese which to me is a luxury, she is just asking to be told off. Same as for coffee and milo, milk etc. If we have she can drink but I don’t believe in buying special for the maid, be it more expensive or cheaper. Breakfast is usually coffee/milo with bread and butter/jam. Or she will make pancake with raisins for my boys or she will fry ntuc roti-prata depending on whether my DS1 ask for it or not. Whatever it is, she will eat too. So far my maid does not dare to ask for anything special unless I force her to make a choice. Recently she told me she actually doesn’t like hor fun/kway teow…that is…after eating it quite regularly for the past few years since our family like hor fun/kway teow!

[syen27]

syen27:

joyceharper:

[quote=\"syen27\"]My agent say they offer 2 types of packages for pinoy maids. One with loan and one without loan.

I don't understand this... Could you explain this a little bit more?

I don't understand it too. Will ask the agent to explain when I go there again this week..[/quote]Agent says with loan means as per current but only for some fili agencies and there will be lesser of these. Without loan means employer pay $2700 for the package upfront (pay off the maid's loan) and maid gets pay on the first month.

[POA Teacher]

syen27:

Agent says with loan means as per current but only for some fili agencies and there will be lesser of these. Without loan means employer pay $2700 for the package upfront (pay off the maid's loan) and maid gets pay on the first month.

Doesn't sound like the $2700 is payment of the maid's loan. It's you paying for all the costs incurred on the maid + big fat profits of both agents, in addition to the agent's fees quoted to you.

[jacsplace]

I’m getting a replacement maid. Placement fee is $2900 upfront payment and deductible with her salary for 8 months

[Mylittletrumpet]

Re the food for maid, she will usually eat what we eat for dinner. From the 1st day she come, I told her what she can and can’t have if she is cooking for herself. She is allowed to help herself to the bread, butter, peanut butter, kaya, eggs, biscuits, sausages, rice, noodles, pasta. I have cheese at home but my maid don’t eat those because I did not tell her she can have that. But if I tell her she can have one piece of cheese to go with her bread for that morning, then she will definately help herself to it.


There was once I had cake in my fridge and I told her that she can help herself to the cake, the next thing I know, the whole cake was gone within 2 days when I only had 1 piece. From then on, I know better not to tell her to "help herself" to the food in the fridge. I will now specifically tell her just to have one or occassionally, I will buy kuehs, small cakes and tell her that those are for her consumption.

Mine is a fresh maid from Philippines and I think it is in their culture unlike Chinese who will usually be paiseh to finish that last piece of food on the plate when dining with others. Having a fresh maid has its cons as well because they are not used to our culture yet. It takes time, patience and a lot of anger management to guide them to our expectation.

[jacsplace]

I had an Indon maid who always walloped all the yummy food that my mil cooked

[panickymum]

POA Teacher:

syen27:

Agent says with loan means as per current but only for some fili agencies and there will be lesser of these. Without loan means employer pay $2700 for the package upfront (pay off the maid's loan) and maid gets pay on the first month.

Doesn't sound like the $2700 is payment of the maid's loan. It's you paying for all the costs incurred on the maid + big fat profits of both agents, in addition to the agent's fees quoted to you.

Yes . Seems that we pay everything ! Wow that's means if the maid runs away or she wants to be the queen , we can't do anything . It's seems unfair to employer .

[panickymum]

jacsplace:

I'm getting a replacement maid. Placement fee is $2900 upfront payment and deductible with her salary for 8 months

How come yours so cheap ? What the monthly salary ?

[Dannyho]

Hi all,


Appreciate some advice. I have a filipino candidate(new in Philippines) in mind & intend to direct hire. There are a few questions which I believe you guys can help me . Firstly, can I do it on my own(DIYw/o agency)? Also what is this POEA thingy? Is it that without their approval, my new helper will not be allowed to come to Singapore even with the In-Principle Approval from MOM???

thanks & best regards