All About Full-Time Maids

[Mephiro]

My maid run away last month (i.e. Dec’12), make me pay for her air ticket and unfinished loan + agent fee which can not be refunded. Now I need to get a new maid and pay $1900 agent fee + $520 salary (including 4 off days per mth) for new maid thanks to this stupid new rule.


The maid was taught by her friends, they will start to compare their salary, especially they know when new 2013 rules kick in, they will have 4 more off-day (or increment if they choose not to rest).

So beware of your current maid, she may plays tricks to make you send her home, so that she can come back again and enjoy the new ‘privileges’.

[KSmom8]

Mephiro:

My maid run away last month (i.e. Dec'12), make me pay for her air ticket and unfinished loan + agent fee which can not be refunded. Now I need to get a new maid and pay $1900 agent fee + $520 salary (including 4 off days per mth) for new maid thanks to this stupid new rule.


The maid was taught by her friends, they will start to compare their salary, especially they know when new 2013 rules kick in, they will have 4 more off-day (or increment if they choose not to rest).

So beware of your current maid, she may plays tricks to make you send her home, so that she can come back again and enjoy the new 'privileges'.

Poor thing.... Hope everything works out well with the new maid.

Where and how did you find your maid, the one that ran away? Did you lodge police report? What about the $5k deposit?

I'm concerned about this cos I usually buy insurance in case new maid runs away. It's for peace of mind and I never had to use it. I don't buy this insurance when i renew my maids. However, with my current maid, thru a new agent, the agent advised that I shouldn't waste money. His logic was that if indeed the maid runs away, they will go to embassy and then he can find her. Now, my agent has some medical problem, so I don't think he can help.

Don't think my maid will run away but always good to know what to do IF it happens.

[ScaredyMum]

But I think the insurance is more than just for "running away". It covers medical/accidents as well. Once my previous maid cut her own finger accidentally while cutting vegetables, it was so bad she had to be stitched and the bill came up to nearly $200 including post treatment. Luckily the insurance cover "accidents" and I was able to recover some of the medical costs back.

[Mephiro]

KSmom8,

My maid went to this organisation called "HOME", they called my agency and send her to MOM for interview. I lodged a police report the next day that she ran away.
Don’t worry about 5k deposit, it is unlikely run away maid can’t be found, I buy insurance for medical cost, not for run away.
After the run away saga, I just learned that employers in SG are miserable, we have no organisation to help us, we all are at Maid’s and Agency’s mercy. Those maid can anytime, anyhow say doesn’t want to work with you, and yet you have to pay for their air ticket/food/lodging/whatever fees, eventhough it was not your fault. The so called ‘contract’ is to make us employer pay and pay, maid doesn’t need to pay a cent if they break the contract. Sad to be a working mother in SG!!

[jtoh]

Make a police report when your maid runs away. It might help MOM in blacklisting them.

[POA Teacher]

ScaredyMum:

But I think the insurance is more than just for \"running away\". It covers medical/accidents as well. Once my previous maid cut her own finger accidentally while cutting vegetables, it was so bad she had to be stitched and the bill came up to nearly $200 including post treatment. Luckily the insurance cover \"accidents\" and I was able to recover some of the medical costs back.

You're confused. The \"run away\" insurance is separate and distinct from thr medical/ accident insurance.

[KSmom8]

Mephiro:

KSmom8,

My maid went to this organisation called \"HOME\", they called my agency and send her to MOM for interview. I lodged a police report the next day that she ran away.
Don't worry about 5k deposit, it is unlikely run away maid can't be found, I buy insurance for medical cost, not for run away.
After the run away saga, I just learned that employers in SG are miserable, we have no organisation to help us, we all are at Maid's and Agency's mercy. Those maid can anytime, anyhow say doesn't want to work with you, and yet you have to pay for their air ticket/food/lodging/whatever fees, eventhough it was not your fault. The so called 'contract' is to make us employer pay and pay, maid doesn't need to pay a cent if they break the contract. Sad to be a working mother in SG!!

Mephiro, thanks for sharing.

I agree the \"contract\" is really useless and in SG, there's really no protection for employer. Personally, I feel that maid levy should be scrapped so that we can afford the higher maid salaries.

Was thinking of returning back to workforce now kids are older but will probably reconsider .... I expect my current maid to renegotiate her terms once her loan ends soon and she has her 1st off day.

This time, if I have to increase my maid's salary, I will factor in a bonus at the end of her contract as an incentive to her. Really don't want to keep negotiating .... or worse, to be subjected to ploys to get me to terminate or transfer her. Hope it works. Anyone has other suggestions?

[Sweet Joy]

Mephiro:

My maid run away last month (i.e. Dec'12), make me pay for her air ticket and unfinished loan + agent fee which can not be refunded. Now I need to get a new maid and pay $1900 agent fee + $520 salary (including 4 off days per mth) for new maid thanks to this stupid new rule.


The maid was taught by her friends, they will start to compare their salary, especially they know when new 2013 rules kick in, they will have 4 more off-day (or increment if they choose not to rest).

So beware of your current maid, she may plays tricks to make you send her home, so that she can come back again and enjoy the new 'privileges'.

Either sending maid home or transferring maid, the employer gets the shorter end of the stick. My ex-maid starts to act up after her loan was paid up. Finally, I had enough and got her transferred. Transferring is better, as the agency gives me free replacement (but I have decided to go without maid for a trial). Just falling in their ploy by sending them home. Perhaps, give an incentive that will be paid out when her contract ends; this way might help to solve the problem.

[Joeyz18]

I just got a new maid whom was here for 3 days and ran away from home to agency today! She fell down the stairs when missed her steps and claimed damn painful and I brought her see doc spent $113. Then today she fled out while no one is at home. The reason she gave agent was my landed house too big for her to handle but in fact she only need clean the house which is 2 rooms and one toilet, living room and kitchen and no need to cook! The rest Of housework my mil will do herself cos she dont like maids tocuh her stuff. The new maids are so lazy and still demand higher pay.

[ScaredyMum]

POA Teacher:

ScaredyMum:

But I think the insurance is more than just for \"running away\". It covers medical/accidents as well. Once my previous maid cut her own finger accidentally while cutting vegetables, it was so bad she had to be stitched and the bill came up to nearly $200 including post treatment. Luckily the insurance cover \"accidents\" and I was able to recover some of the medical costs back.

You're confused. The \"run away\" insurance is separate and distinct from thr medical/ accident insurance.

Perhaps so, I paid $300+ for a higher end policy that has both components bah. I better go home and check tonight haha...