All About Full-Time Maids

[KSmom8]

mummy OnABudget:

sigh my old one is ok with coming back but she does not want to see my hubby face see the dilemma i am facing ><

I empathize with you.

DH once lost temper at exmaid. She talked back over something that was clearly her fault. After that, i had to speak to DH not to get involved in maid matters.

Now I'm middleman, DH not happy with way my current maid does something, he tell me and I discuss with her. Maid wants to perform her chores another way, she discuss with me and I inform DH.

[mummy OnABudget]

haiz dh was saying if this one goes den i go maidless ><

[matrix0405]

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?

Known devil/angel is better than an unknown. Don expect the new $500 to be more skill or more experienced then the $360. It is the same thing, u just pay more.

[KSmom8]

mummy OnABudget:

haiz dh was saying if this one goes den i go maidless ><

It's a tough situation you are in.

I will seriously consider whether to do without a maid if things get worse with my current maid. So far, I can close one eye, sometimes both eyes. I think now that kids are older, i could try to do without a maid. Unless...I return back to work, then that's a problem. DH is the one who is not so keen to do without a maid...too pampered by MIL since young.

[KSmom8]

matrix0405:

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?

Known devil/angel is better than an unknown. Don expect the new $500 to be more skill or more experienced then the $360. It is the same thing, u just pay more.

Agree. However, sometimes can't tolerate the known devil anymore, then might have better luck with an unknown. Depends on employer's level of tolerance. In my opinion, there's no perfect maid.

But if new maid's salary is $x, then the known devil will expect $x plus more for experience, upon renewal. Sometimes, need to consider whether the known devil's work quality is worth paying the \"plus more\".

[mummy OnABudget]

yea most prob will go maidless since my eldest is 12 can help around already if her demands get too sky high got to let her go even if i dont want too.

[Coolkidsrock2]

Should be manageable if not working since your eldest is already independent. As the kids grow older, they will have more activities outside so it will probably be 1 meal a day. With less people home, less mess and perhaps close more windows or at least less wide open, less dust collected, less cleaning.


I treat my household chores like my work, always reviewing the process with the aim to cut and make it more efficient and effective.

[POA Teacher]

Now with the new maids getting weekly days off, how many current maids and their employers are misinterpreting the regulations?


My maid just informed me that her friend was informed by her employer that from now on she is entitled to a day off every week. And that if SHE chooses not to take a day off, they have to top up her pay.

[straffan23]

My maid, from last year already told me, she doesn’t need 4 days off. Just once a month would suffice. I may "top up her pay" for the other 3. I told her, but I don’t need you to work either. Why not you just go out those 4 days? Anyway I don’t have extra budget to top up. She thought about it and then quietly stuck to her once a month off day. Why? Off day means, she goes out for the whole day and then she has to pay for her own meals. Then when she see things she will buy. Min spend is $20/off day. Weekends at home means, nothing much to do, cos we take the kids out most of the time. At most, have to cook dinner. Cleaning etc all done already… Who’s the smarter one? hahaha…

[POA Teacher]

straffan23:

My maid, from last year already told me, she doesn't need 4 days off. Just once a month would suffice. I may \"top up her pay\" for the other 3. I told her, but I don't need you to work either. Why not you just go out those 4 days? Anyway I don't have extra budget to top up. She thought about it and then quietly stuck to her once a month off day. Why? Off day means, she goes out for the whole day and then she has to pay for her own meals. Then when she see things she will buy. Min spend is $20/off day. Weekends at home means, nothing much to do, cos we take the kids out most of the time. At most, have to cook dinner. Cleaning etc all done already.... Who's the smarter one? hahaha...

Good for you.
It must be made clear to them that the top-up is not compulsory unless the EMPLOYER asks them to give up the day off.
Furthermore, since your maid is not a new maid, and has not renewed contract in 2013, I would like to point out that she is not entitled to the weekly day off anyway. So in your case, even if you stubborn, stubborn do not want to give her the day off, she is not entitled to it.

Many maids actually prefer to go out with their friends once a month only. The ones that want weekly day off are usually the ones with bfs or are moonlighting.
Personally, I won't mind if mine wants a weekly day off, but she has always said she doesn't want that. Whenever she wants a day off, she just tells me and I say OK. Usually that happens once a month, occassionally 2x. If I renew her contract, I will make her take weekly day off.