All About Full-Time Maids

[autumnbronze]

mummy of 2:

Hi autumnbronze


My exact sentiments! My previous maid wrote back to her family (as she lived in a remote village in Myanmar, and there was no telephone at home) with my home telephone number. Somehow MY number got circulated to some other maids working in Singapore. She started receiving calls from them. After every call, she would feel moody (i guess homesick). For the first one or two calls I did not say anything but it got to the point when she had more calls than any of us. I then put a stop to it by asking the caller why she's looking for my maid, as she is not free to take the call now. She can leave a message if she wants. From then on, no more phone calls.

Hi mummy of 2,

You are fortunate that you managed to 'nip the bud' successfully. Really, I think having a helper is both a boon and a bane. There is only so much rules and regulations that you can come up with ... the rest is really learn thru trial and error.

Who would have anticipated/imagined that your no would be circulated ... :?

[mummy of 2]

Yes, fortunately the maid who called was smart enuff to realise that her calls were not welcome. I did not have to tell my maid off.


Actually there was a sequel to the call. I was kind enough to allow her time-off to meet her friend, even though she agreed to no off-day.

After her outing, the maid agency called to say that my maid’s aprents wanted her to go home, as they think she has breast cancer. For one, the call came months after her letter reached home. i know this as that’s how people started calling her. If her parents were so concerned, they would not have waited for so long to take action. Secondly I had alraedy brought her to see a specialist at SHG twice, and the specialist had told her very clearly that she does not have braest cancer, she only has some lumps. I paid for the consultation fee (about $100 each time), and specially took leave to accompany her for the medical appointments.

And she started to show black face, told me she wanted to call the maid agnecy, and refusing to tell me the reason. I did not agree to that, and insisted she tell me why. I did not want her to tell the maid agency we were ill-treating her or something. After much probing, she said she still thinks she has breast cancer. I was so :x Told her off sternly that the maid agency will not be as nice as me to bring her to see doctor and pay for it. Then she said she wanted to go back. At that time, she had just finished her loan repayment. Told her ok, if that’s what she really wants. Then allowed her to talk to maid agency. After which, she reconsidered and decided to continue working.

I must say that from then on, she has been a great helper.

I also learned a lesson from this episode - not to be too nice to helper.

[titank]

Now must try tahan the maid,if change then must pay extra $$. This maid always bath take very long like 30 minutes, guess must be going to apply some cream on her face. I can see her face is getting bad to worst.


She got one time said like to try \"New York Skin Solutions\" for those trial.Ha.ha told her her entire pay also not enough to cover this facial treatment.

[carebear]

mummy of 2:

My second maid was like that. See the sky dark dark also didn't keep clothes. Sent her back to agency after 3 days. Waited one month for new maid. This one is much better. Agree that the quality of maids is getting from bad to worse.

So far i have been quite lucky with maids.
I got all 3 of them from the same agency, homekeeper.
I am pleased with all of them so far.
Just got a new one 2 weeks ago and she is adapting well!
mummy of 2, i quite agree with you......
Not quality in my case, but it's the language part.
The last 2 could speak english well.
This time i went through the long list of biodata, but those whom i found suitable, could not speak english.
It's not really a problem with me cos i can speak conversational malay, but my kids find it difficult to communicate with her.

[Joy]

hey, you are so lucky.


Which homekeeper branch you go to?

Are all your maids fresh or with experience?thanks


rgds
Joy

carebear:

mummy of 2:

My second maid was like that. See the sky dark dark also didn't keep clothes. Sent her back to agency after 3 days. Waited one month for new maid. This one is much better. Agree that the quality of maids is getting from bad to worse.

So far i have been quite lucky with maids.
I got all 3 of them from the same agency, homekeeper.
I am pleased with all of them so far.
Just got a new one 2 weeks ago and she is adapting well!
mummy of 2, i quite agree with you......
Not quality in my case, but it's the language part.
The last 2 could speak english well.
This time i went through the long list of biodata, but those whom i found suitable, could not speak english.
It's not really a problem with me cos i can speak conversational malay, but my kids find it difficult to communicate with her.

[titank]

Is Homekeeper good? I fnd that average agent fee range at least like $300. Maybe mine was those low agency fee like $88 that why the quality of filipino maid that I get is no good.


Sometime I find that the same bio-data can be found in different agencies. Wonder is ti just the same supplier that the agencies that you are using?

[mummy of 2]

carebear:

mummy of 2:

My second maid was like that. See the sky dark dark also didn't keep clothes. Sent her back to agency after 3 days. Waited one month for new maid. This one is much better. Agree that the quality of maids is getting from bad to worse.

So far i have been quite lucky with maids.
I got all 3 of them from the same agency, homekeeper.
I am pleased with all of them so far.
Just got a new one 2 weeks ago and she is adapting well!
mummy of 2, i quite agree with you......
Not quality in my case, but it's the language part.
The last 2 could speak english well.
This time i went through the long list of biodata, but those whom i found suitable, could not speak english.
It's not really a problem with me cos i can speak conversational malay, but my kids find it difficult to communicate with her.

I find that it's both language and ability to learn. My first maid had a lot of intiative. By the end of her two years, she could cook almost as well as my MIL, and could help read to the kids, and supervise DS1 in writing exercises.

[mummy of 2]

titank:

Is Homekeeper good? I fnd that average agent fee range at least like $300. Maybe mine was those low agency fee like $88 that why the quality of filipino maid that I get is no good.


Sometime I find that the same bio-data can be found in different agencies. Wonder is ti just the same supplier that the agencies that you are using?

I used Nation both times. The fee is high $700+ each time but I'm quite happy with the service. They are not the unscrupulous type who try to give you lousy maids. When I was considering transfer maids, they would tell me why the maids were transfered and woud recommend that i wait for new maids.

[kiasimom]

titank:

Hi All,


If the current maid had finish the maid loan I can just striaght away cancel her WP & get her an air ticket back to a home country or should I send her back to the agent?

Current maid had been working almost 7 months. still very blur like sotong. Where the sky is dark dark suppose to keep the clothes. In the end wait until it rain then she go & keep while in the midst of cooking.

I find that the quality of maid now is getting back to worst. My maid agency is Z.zzz type, ask for replacement bio-data like bochap bochap type.

Agree that once change a maid have to start with new maid loan, insurance, safety course which easily add up to $3,000! :!:

Hi titank,

Usually if the maid has no more outstanding loan, you can cancel her work permit and buy her an airticket home.
Still, I will advise you to check your employment agreement with the agency.
I believe as long as your maid doesn't owe them any more money, they should have no objections of you sending her back

[kiasimom]

titank:

Now must try tahan the maid,if change then must pay extra $$. This maid always bath take very long like 30 minutes, guess must be going to apply some cream on her face. I can see her face is getting bad to worst.


She got one time said like to try \"New York Skin Solutions\" for those trial.Ha.ha told her her entire pay also not enough to cover this facial treatment.

I used to have a maid who baths for as long as 1 hour :!:
I told her that she is hogging the toilet and should be considerate.

Current maid alos try to test water.
When she first came, very fast and efficient, then try to cut corners.
Spent 30 minutes eating and 30 minutes bathing. I observed her for a few days and approcahed her. i asked her why is there such a differnce in time taken in eating and bathing? She kept quiet and I told her I have observed her for some time.
I reminded her that whatever she does, she is being monitored by me and that if she is really interested in her job, don't try to take chance thinking that I don't know.
Since then, she has reverted to her normal time.

My advice: Tell the maid directly if you are not satisfied with her performance. Don't bottle it and hope that she will realise it herself.