All About Full-Time Maids

[Power Puff]

Thank you for your kind suggestions. My maid has just informed us that she would like to work under our parents since she’s familiar with them (plus much less housework coz they live in an apartment as opposed to my house, garden and super active kids!)


We’ve checked with MOM: As our family is not physically in Singapore, our maid cannot simply move over to another household because she’s still under our employment and we are liable for her. We’ve been advised to transfer her to another employer instead (in this case, we’ve asked our parents to take over since she’s familiar with them). In addition, it is up to our parents and maid to negotiate the terms of employment. She’s choosing to stay under the current terms of 1 monthly off day and returning to home country in 6 months’ time (that’s when her 2 year contract duration would be up, if she’d continued under us). Our parents will draw up a new contract with the weekly day off after she returns. In any case, we’re likely to write a letter to MOM to explain the reason for the transfer in case other future employers ask why she did not complete her contract with us).

In the meantime, although my Indo maid is not perfect and I get annoyed with her at times, I’m thankful for her help. My previous Fil maids gave me a lot of grief and did not complete their contracts.

[POA Teacher]

Power Puff:

Thank you for your kind suggestions. My maid has just informed us that she would like to work under our parents since she's familiar with them (plus much less housework coz they live in an apartment as opposed to my house, garden and super active kids!)


We've checked with MOM: As our family is not physically in Singapore, our maid cannot simply move over to another household because she's still under our employment and we are liable for her. We've been advised to transfer her to another employer instead (in this case, we've asked our parents to take over since she's familiar with them). In addition, it is up to our parents and maid to negotiate the terms of employment. She's choosing to stay under the current terms of 1 monthly off day and returning to home country in 6 months' time (that's when her 2 year contract duration would be up, if she'd continued under us). Our parents will draw up a new contract with the weekly day off after she returns. In any case, we're likely to write a letter to MOM to explain the reason for the transfer in case other future employers ask why she did not complete her contract with us).

In the meantime, although my Indo maid is not perfect and I get annoyed with her at times, I'm thankful for her help. My previous Fil maids gave me a lot of grief and did not complete their contracts.

I suggest that you give her that letter, when she leaves your parents' employ.
I doubt that MOM would bother to explain to potential new employers why she got transferred. You could also send them a copy, but I expect that it'll get tossed into a bin.

[KSmom8]

POA Teacher:

Power Puff:

Thank you for your kind suggestions. My maid has just informed us that she would like to work under our parents since she's familiar with them (plus much less housework coz they live in an apartment as opposed to my house, garden and super active kids!)


We've checked with MOM: As our family is not physically in Singapore, our maid cannot simply move over to another household because she's still under our employment and we are liable for her. We've been advised to transfer her to another employer instead (in this case, we've asked our parents to take over since she's familiar with them). In addition, it is up to our parents and maid to negotiate the terms of employment. She's choosing to stay under the current terms of 1 monthly off day and returning to home country in 6 months' time (that's when her 2 year contract duration would be up, if she'd continued under us). Our parents will draw up a new contract with the weekly day off after she returns. In any case, we're likely to write a letter to MOM to explain the reason for the transfer in case other future employers ask why she did not complete her contract with us).

In the meantime, although my Indo maid is not perfect and I get annoyed with her at times, I'm thankful for her help. My previous Fil maids gave me a lot of grief and did not complete their contracts.

I suggest that you give her that letter, when she leaves your parents' employ.
I doubt that MOM would bother to explain to potential new employers why she got transferred. You could also send them a copy, but I expect that it'll get tossed into a bin.

Perhaps you should also ask your maid to sign and agree on 2 sets of the letter....just in case there are disputes in future. Keep the other original with you.

My Fil maid also giving me lots of grief especially with the CNY cleaning. With all the stress I am getting, am seriously thinking of cutting her hongbao to token sum only. Don't think I ( not maid ) can last till the end of her contract.

[KSmom8]

jacsplace:

I don't know about the transfer, but generally if the maid chooses to terminate the contract and return home, then she should pay for her own air ticket.

I was always under the impression that the cost of air ticket is to be borne fully by employer, regardless of whether the maid or employer chooses to terminate the contract.

One of the many MOM pro-maid policies, I thought. Can someone clarify?

[POA Teacher]

KSmom8:

jacsplace:

I don't know about the transfer, but generally if the maid chooses to terminate the contract and return home, then she should pay for her own air ticket.

I was always under the impression that the cost of air ticket is to be borne fully by employer, regardless of whether the maid or employer chooses to terminate the contract.

One of the many MOM pro-maid policies, I thought. Can someone clarify?

Yup, I think so too.

Early last year, it reported that MOM was going to revise certain terms including the question of who's responsible for the maid's ticket home if the maid is sent home for matters beyond the employer's control. It said that the announcement would be made in middle of the year. Well, the middle of the year came and went, but no announcement was made. I guessed MOM chickened out.

[Power Puff]

Yes, I do intend to print a few copies of the letter stating reason for maid transfer and new contract - together with maid’s consent and signature, in case a dispute arises.


Is there anywhere in MOM policies that regardless of reason for maid returning to home country through her own fault eg. negligent, breach contract, commit some crime etc., the employer must bear cost of airfare and repatriation?

I sometimes wonder if we do the things some of the errant maids do, will our employers bother to transfer us to another company or pay for our repatriation? Aren’t we all adults and should be expected to know our responsibilities and consequences when we sign a contract? I really feel MOM is practising double standards. They make the maids sound as if the latter cannot think or reason (never mind that the age requirement is higher now), are vulnerable, as if the maids have been bought by us employers to be submissive slaves and get abused. A contract is meant to be beneficial to both parties, but it is obvious that employers here get shortchanged.

Seems that of all the govt policies eg. housing, education, transport, manpower policies seem to have the least priority in improving the lives of the people. After so many years, nothing has changed at all. The fdw industry (or market?) is still not properly or tightly regulated, costs of hiring fdws have shot up for no good reason and weekly day-offs made mandatory. Really, all the govt bodies have to put in much greater effort to work together and revise or even revamp their policies to benefit the people.

[vividlaurel]

Hi,


I have a question, hoping someone here can help.

I used to have a maid, who, because of problems, I transferred out last year in Feb. Due to thus, I also left my job and became a SAHM. So pretty much whole of last year I had no income. Now, I have landed a new position, which I need to start next week. I have already started looking for a new maid. My question is will my application be accepted even though I had no income last year. I prefer to take her under my name so that I can take advantage of the income tax relief.

Really appreciate if anyone can let me know what happens in cases like mine?

Thanks a lot in advance

[nms1]

vividlaurel:

Hi,


I have a question, hoping someone here can help.

I used to have a maid, who, because of problems, I transferred out last year in Feb. Due to thus, I also left my job and became a SAHM. So pretty much whole of last year I had no income. Now, I have landed a new position, which I need to start next week. I have already started looking for a new maid. My question is will my application be accepted even though I had no income last year. I prefer to take her under my name so that I can take advantage of the income tax relief.

Really appreciate if anyone can let me know what happens in cases like mine?

Thanks a lot in advance

You will still receive the income tax relief if she is under your husband's name.

[vividlaurel]

Thanks nms1, but will my application be accepted or rejected? If I put her under my husband, he will be treated as a first time employer right?

nms1:

vividlaurel:

Hi,

I have a question, hoping someone here can help.

I used to have a maid, who, because of problems, I transferred out last year in Feb. Due to thus, I also left my job and became a SAHM. So pretty much whole of last year I had no income. Now, I have landed a new position, which I need to start next week. I have already started looking for a new maid. My question is will my application be accepted even though I had no income last year. I prefer to take her under my name so that I can take advantage of the income tax relief.

Really appreciate if anyone can let me know what happens in cases like mine?

Thanks a lot in advance

You will still receive the income tax relief if she is under your husband's name.

[nms1]

It will be based on joint income not just the income of whichever one of you is the employer.