All About Full-Time Maids
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junearifin:
Hi, you can check out BBNanny at their website. The charges are listed.DesertWind:
The cost of employing a maid is so high now the alternative of using a local nanny looks very attractive indeed! To look after the kid, the introduction fee is about SGD200/= (I think) and monthly pay to nanny about SGD600. No need to pay upfront for many months too! Downside is of course nanny not 24-hrs help, at night and weekends got to look after kid ourselves.
Which nanny service is this? All full time nanny from agencies seems to charge close to 2K per month for 7am-7pm weekday service.
If you could share which agency you are referring to, it would be GREAT!
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POA Teacher:
Hi, this ex-HK maid is my mother's maid. She is somewhat slow indeed and can understand why she did not last long in HK.Hi Desertwind, your maid wants an increament over the pay she was getting in HK!
Btw, she probably didn't make the cut in HK, otherwise why was she employed there for less than a year. Must be kena sacked. -
Hi autumnbronze,
I read your previous post and my brain must be very blocked because I can’t seem to understand the problem. For eg. your maid has worked here for 3 years, so she would have her own savings no? Perhaps that explain why she got money to take a cab. I would think this maid knows her way and transport system very well by now in Singapore.
Secondly, you mentioned there was a Western Union funds transfer FROM Saudi Arabia to your maid from a man? Are you saying she was a ex-Saudi maid? How to moonlight if she already working in SG for 3 years…?
I catch no ball leh!
Anyway, I will suggest just talking to her casually and neutrally with the aim of trying to understand her source of funds, does she save a lot, how much she has now, does she remit funds often to her family, what are her goals in life, does she intend to build her house etc. Also just chit chat ask her how’s her off days like, who she goes with and what they usually do? See how she respond la… If you ask me, if she got 2 days off, not likely she will moonlight because I think maid really wants a break. Perhaps the SGD200 was an ang pow given by her ex-employer during open-house. Perhaps she did help somewhat to clean up since the open house would have many guests? Anyway perhaps can just take it as an one-off event and forget about it.
One positive thing I can see is at least your maid is on good terms with her ex-employer, which is a good thing. However, why she only work one year with her prior employer? Usually contract 2 years right? Why she transfer?
Actually your this maid sounds quite good so I agree not to be too hasty to change as yet. -
Autumn, I can only think of 2 reasons. First, the money was sent to ex-employer. So this means it’s someone the employer knew. Family member of ex-employer perhaps who want to reward her for doing her job well? Secondly, could be maid’s boyfriend or husband who is working in Saudi. If its really one of these 2 reasons then nothing to worry because boyfriend or husband too far away to make her pregnant unless he decides to make a trip to S’pore.
And if you were able to find the western union receipt easily also means she has nothing to hide. An experienced maid will know how to hide things from you if they choose to. Personally I wouldn’t be too concern over this unless she has not been doing her job. But then again that would be a totally different story altogether. Since she has been following yr instructions and taking care of yr toddler well (unlike mine) then you do not need to be alarmed. But I must say she is pretty close to this ex-employer(Muslim). -
DesertWind:
Hi autumnbronze,
Hi DesertWind!
Thanks for responding :hugs:
I read your previous post and my brain must be very blocked because I can't seem to understand the problem. For eg. your maid has worked here for 3 years, so she would have her own savings no? Perhaps that explain why she got money to take a cab. I would think this maid knows her way and transport system very well by now in Singapore.
Apparently, no. According to her, she sent all her money back before moving in with us. She is a divorcee with a 13 year old DD.
Secondly, you mentioned there was a Western Union funds transfer FROM Saudi Arabia to your maid from a man? Are you saying she was a ex-Saudi maid? How to moonlight if she already working in SG for 3 years....?
I catch no ball leh!
The WU fund receipt was addressed to another name, seems like a local Malay name. I assume it's her ex-employer's name. To my knowledge, she has only worked in Singapore. With your question, you have given me something to look at now. And yes, the funds were transferred from SA.
Anyway, I will suggest just talking to her casually and neutrally with the aim of trying to understand her source of funds, does she save a lot, how much she has now, does she remit funds often to her family, what are her goals in life, does she intend to build her house etc. Also just chit chat ask her
how's her off days like, who she goes with and what they usually do? See how she respond la.... If you ask me, if she got 2 days off, not likely she
will moonlight because I think maid really wants a break.
Perhaps the SGD200 was an ang pow given by her ex-employer during
open-house. Perhaps she did help somewhat to clean up since the open house would have many guests? Anyway perhaps can just take it as an
one-off event and forget about it.
Yes, that is another way to look at it too.
One positive thing I can see is at least your maid is on good terms with her
ex-employer, which is a good thing. However, why she only work one year with her prior employer? Usually contract 2 years right? Why she transfer?
She worked for a year cuz she mentioned that she couldn't tolerate shuttling back and forth everyday to two locations with two kids. The employers will send her to their parents house early in the morning,
then pick them up after work, have their dinner out, plus shop/window shop almost everyday, only returning home 10 or 11 plus. On top of that she had to tidy up their home that late. The kids slept late too. She was constantly
tired.
Actually your this maid sounds quite good so I agree not to be too hasty to
change as yet.
Thank you for your understanding. I know I can always count on you for that
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peapot:
Thank you peapot. Your response is comforting :hugs:Autumn, I can only think of 2 reasons. First, the money was sent to ex-employer. So this means it's someone the employer knew. Family member of ex-employer perhaps who want to reward her for doing her job well? Secondly, could be maid's boyfriend or husband who is working in Saudi. If its really one of these 2 reasons then nothing to worry because boyfriend or husband too far away to make her pregnant unless he decides to make a trip to S'pore.
And if you were able to find the western union receipt easily also means she has nothing to hide. An experienced maid will know how to hide things from you if they choose to. Personally I wouldn't be too concern over this unless she has not been doing her job. But then again that would be a totally different story altogether. Since she has been following yr instructions and taking care of yr toddler well (unlike mine) then you do not need to be alarmed. But I must say she is pretty close to this ex-employer(Muslim).
Yes, you are right about hiding things if she really wanted to.
Like I mentioned, I am new to this sort of experience, therefore have sought advice here. Am glad that I did.
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autumnbronze:
I also catch no ball. So the receipt was in her ex-employer's name and the fund was transferred from Saudi. Then why was the receipt with her?
Thank you peapot. Your response is comforting :hugs:peapot:
Autumn, I can only think of 2 reasons. First, the money was sent to ex-employer. So this means it's someone the employer knew. Family member of ex-employer perhaps who want to reward her for doing her job well? Secondly, could be maid's boyfriend or husband who is working in Saudi. If its really one of these 2 reasons then nothing to worry because boyfriend or husband too far away to make her pregnant unless he decides to make a trip to S'pore.
And if you were able to find the western union receipt easily also means she has nothing to hide. An experienced maid will know how to hide things from you if they choose to. Personally I wouldn't be too concern over this unless she has not been doing her job. But then again that would be a totally different story altogether. Since she has been following yr instructions and taking care of yr toddler well (unlike mine) then you do not need to be alarmed. But I must say she is pretty close to this ex-employer(Muslim).
Yes, you are right about hiding things if she really wanted to.
Like I mentioned, I am new to this sort of experience, therefore have sought advice here. Am glad that I did. -
peapot:
Sigh!! I m trying tolerate my current maid. She tell her previous employer that she is very tired but everyday 2.30pm she is very free. She prepares dinner at 3.30pm?? Who the hell will prepare so early? Reason being she too free, paisei because I m on leave at home, pretend to do something. So now the previous employer feel so heartache for her. Good grief!! Sometimes I wonder the previous employer is the mother or what?!! That's why it is not a good idea if previous employer keep close in contact with the maid and choose to side her.
The employer even know her daily routine and what we eat for breakfast!!! I got abit pissed like the maid is the spy or something. Feel like changing her but once I called the agency and heard about the amount of money I have to pay, I withdraw my application. Aiyo, headache!
Are you sure what your maid tells you is from her previous employer ? Then why she wants to leave her sweet caring boss and come to you . Sometimes they just say to make you feel bad and they can laze around
Does your agency allow changing within a year ? Then why must you pay ? -
autumnbronze:
AB, no need to find excuses. Be up front and tell her yours is new working relationship and you are just puzzled about the WU receipt.My current maid is a transfer maid.
She has worked here for about 3 years.
Currently, she will not be paid until the 3rd month is up. She is given 2 days off a month.
Last weekend, she mentioned that she was going to her ex-employer's (a Muslim) house as she was holding an open house. She was exceptionally happy that day.
After she returned, I discovered she had a Western Union receipt under I assume, the ex-employer's name. A money transfer was made from Saudi Arabia, about $200. The sender was a male. My maid was holding that amount. She had also taken a taxi back on her off day, after calling me and
telling me that there was a train disruption in Paya Lebar.
I would like to approach her and talk to her about her expenses on her off days, on the pretext of offering some pocket money, as the basis of establishing where and why she is getting her 'extra money' from. I have to find ways of finding out via cross examination. However, I would appreciate
it if experienced members can enlighten me, based on assumptions, behind
the fact that she is having the money. This is the first time I am facing such a situation cuz my 1st maid was a gem. The 2nd one was a nightmare. I sent her back after 6 months. Both did not have off days, hence there were no issues with expenses.
Please don't tell me that she cannot be trusted etc..... I have learnt that I
have to manage my expectations of my maid. I do not have any major complaints about her. She takes care of the toddler well and does a good job of cleaning. So I would refrain from changing my maid unless there
warrants a concrete and plausible reason.
It is not a bad thing that she has a good relationship with her ex-employer. That goes to show she is not that bad a worker. The maid who looked after my granma still visits my aunt on her off days. I gather you did not get a character reference from her ex-employer and thus do not have their contact. If in your shoes, I will ask her to call her ex-employer for me to speak to them and get their contacts personally.
My maid gets off days too. So long as she is back by 9pm and all appears normal, I don't want to speculate too much as to how she spends her off days. -
Autumnbronze: This is super chim liao...
I catch no ball also! :oops: :oops: My maid has very good relationship with her ex-employer too. I always think that maybe one day she will be asked to go back and work for them. However, in the meantime, I just tell myself - better good than bad, right? I mean, she did take care of the kid from newborn till 3 years old.
Here's another possibility: The WU receipt might have nothing to do with her whatsoever. Just someone asking for something to be passed to another person. Between maids, surely they do this all the time? If you have seen the WU receipt in a rather \"open\" place, you could just casually mention it and ask her what is it about? Maybe I am being ignorrant... I never once checked on my maid - not her handphone, not her room, not her bag! I used to live with my boss, too - he said, always innocent until proven guilty - if he feels there's a need to go through my things, then he should ask me to move out altogether?
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