All About Full-Time Maids

[KSmom8]

bernice:

i notice my Indo helper is taking slimming pills (from unknown source, I suspect that its from Indonesia), she tends to eat little during meals and long & freq. visits to toilet.


I am kind of concern about her health esp my baby is coming soon. Do I have the right to ask her to stop taking the slimming pills?

I would ask about the slimming pills, question whether they are safe for consumption and relate to her incidents of people being hospitalized and suffering from XXX permanently. Remember the celebrity who damaged her liver and had a transplant from her fiancé celebrity.... Was due to slimming pills right? Did I remember correctly?

Usually Indo helpers very scared when they hear 'hospital'. Try to reassure that if she eat lesser should lose weight. But if eat too little will get gastric pains, may faint and have to see doctor or stay in hospital. If don't eat enough, no strength, then how to do housework? Does madam get another helper to do housework? You know your helper best to decide on the correct choice of words and phrases.

My maids tend to put on weight within the first few months, but start to watch their diet after that. Most leave with fatter waistline. I feel that I have a right to ask and know, cos their medical problem is also mine. Thanks to MOM regulations. Jmho.

[Notksmum]

hi all,


Thanks for the sharing. I think I will still go ahead to open the FDW bank account. Maybe OCBC since they have Sunday Banking.

[Admummy]

Thinking of renewing my indo maid whose contract expiring in Jun. There are so many changes to the law. I don’t want to go through maid agency, can anyone enlighten me what is the procedure now? Is it just renew the work permit? What about going to the Indo Embassy? Still need to go there, do up a work contract and sign in front of the officials? What is the minimum pay now, is the minimum pay amount compulsory to follow or just as a guide? My maid was employed before the minimum wage amount was set hence it was relatively low starting pay (plus she has totally no experience as a maid). If I were to apply the minimum wage amount on her, this would mean a pay rise of about 25%! To be frank, i don’t think she deserve such a huge pay rise coz her work attitude still needs a lot of improvement. I wanted to extend her contract because I wanna save the hassle of retraining and eliminate the waiting period. I may just need her for another one year only so renewing her contract is more appropriate than getting a new maid (by default two years contract). Would appreciate comments and advice from you all please. Thanks!

[POA Teacher]

Admummy:

Thinking of renewing my indo maid whose contract expiring in Jun. There are so many changes to the law. I don't want to go through maid agency, can anyone enlighten me what is the procedure now? Is it just renew the work permit? What about going to the Indo Embassy? Still need to go there, do up a work contract and sign in front of the officials? What is the minimum pay now, is the minimum pay amount compulsory to follow or just as a guide? My maid was employed before the minimum wage amount was set hence it was relatively low starting pay (plus she has totally no experience as a maid). If I were to apply the minimum wage amount on her, this would mean a pay rise of about 25%! To be frank, i don't think she deserve such a huge pay rise coz her work attitude still needs a lot of improvement. I wanted to extend her contract because I wanna save the hassle of retraining and eliminate the waiting period. I may just need her for another one year only so renewing her contract is more appropriate than getting a new maid (by default two years contract). Would appreciate comments and advice from you all please. Thanks!

I think:
Just go to MOM website and follow the instructions for renewing the permit yourself eg get insurance, apply to MOM online
If your maid's passport still has another year's validity (since you said you only need her for one more year), you don't need to go to the embassy.
Minimum of $450 for new Indon maids is what the Indon authorities trying to enforce. What you pay to your maid is entirely by agreement between yourself and the maid. Why won't you pay her the $450 at least? She may not be a perfect maid, but she can't be that bad since you would like to renew her contract.
Do you think the new girls coming in on salaries of $450 are all better than her?
Btw, she has working experience as a maid, 1 1/2 yrs of it, in your home. If she were to get a new employer instead of renewing with you, she'll be able to command a salary of $500 at least.

[Admummy]

POA Teacher:

Admummy:

Thinking of renewing my indo maid whose contract expiring in Jun. There are so many changes to the law. I don't want to go through maid agency, can anyone enlighten me what is the procedure now? Is it just renew the work permit? What about going to the Indo Embassy? Still need to go there, do up a work contract and sign in front of the officials? What is the minimum pay now, is the minimum pay amount compulsory to follow or just as a guide? My maid was employed before the minimum wage amount was set hence it was relatively low starting pay (plus she has totally no experience as a maid). If I were to apply the minimum wage amount on her, this would mean a pay rise of about 25%! To be frank, i don't think she deserve such a huge pay rise coz her work attitude still needs a lot of improvement. I wanted to extend her contract because I wanna save the hassle of retraining and eliminate the waiting period. I may just need her for another one year only so renewing her contract is more appropriate than getting a new maid (by default two years contract). Would appreciate comments and advice from you all please. Thanks!

I think:
Just go to MOM website and follow the instructions for renewing the permit yourself eg get insurance, apply to MOM online
If your maid's passport still has another year's validity (since you said you only need her for one more year), you don't need to go to the embassy.
Minimum of $450 for new Indon maids is what the Indon authorities trying to enforce. What you pay to your maid is entirely by agreement between yourself and the maid. Why won't you pay her the $450 at least? She may not be a perfect maid, but she can't be that bad since you would like to renew her contract.
Do you think the new girls coming in on salaries of $450 are all better than her?
Btw, she has working experience as a maid, 1 1/2 yrs of it, in your home. If she were to get a new employer instead of renewing with you, she'll be able to command a salary of $500 at least.

Thks for ur reply and advice Yah agree with u that she shld be paid at least the min pay to be fair to her..frankly I'm still hesitating abt renewing her contract.. since i need to fork out at least $450 (both new or renew old) maybe I shld just get a new maid and start afresh..

[mummy OnABudget]

Just asking if maid decide not to go back for home leave for 2 weeks we should compensate 2 weeks or 4 weeks salary as my maid is saying her friends said is 4 weeks salary.

[nms1]

mummy OnABudget:

Just asking if maid decide not to go back for home leave for 2 weeks we should compensate 2 weeks or 4 weeks salary as my maid is saying her friends said is 4 weeks salary.

As far as I am aware, it's neither. You should compensate her the cost of the plane fare home. It's up to you to decide how much that is - for a Filipina I would base it on a Philippine Airlines fare i.e. somewhere between budget and SIA price.

[KSmom8]

mummy OnABudget:

Just asking if maid decide not to go back for home leave for 2 weeks we should compensate 2 weeks or 4 weeks salary as my maid is saying her friends said is 4 weeks salary.

I paid my maid 2 weeks salary plus cost of air ticket for home leave. I printed out the air ticket cost to show her and showed her calculation of salary. When she agreed, i wrote down and attached supporting information, she signed and acknowledged agreement, then payment made.

[straffan23]

Just to share, I renewed my Indo maid’s contract in May 2011. Her salary went up from $360 to $400 within the first year, and upon renewal, $430. End of this year, I would have to renew the contract again (passport expiry). So, I will most probably have to pay her $500 (if I want a maid, at all)… because, while she has her imperfections, it is better to pay her (the devil I know, $500)… then to pay someone else (the angel/devil I still do not know, $500 or more!). Plus the agency fees, maid loan, etc etc, right?

[KSmom8]

Read today's straits times newspapers. New ruling kicks in for weekly rest day for domestic helpers.


Be prepared for possible new issues from maids under old contract. Might ask for transfer to get higher pay or more rest days. Or worse, give problems so that employers transfer them!

Might let my maid go if she gives me problems and we can't resolve it... Then consider whether to delay further returning to work.... :scratchhead:

On one hand, with all the problems and issues with maids, I am prepared to go without a maid. On the other hand, how to return to workforce if no maid assist though my parent will be looking after the kids and the kids are now older.