All About Full-Time Maids

[peapot]

By the way, I also don’t like filipino maid. which is why i ended up with Myanmar maids. Sigh!

[kiasimom]

A small tip to share.

Do buy a language dictionary for communicating to your FDW.

I bought 2 each time.
English to Indonesia
Indonesia to english

Depending on your maid’s nationality.
This is especially useful when you have difficulties conversing.

You just need to flip to the required word and point it to your maid. This way, she will understand and you
Will be able to pick up the language too

[tamarind]

My SIL has a Myanmar maid. This maid says that she does not want to listen to any nagging by my SIL's mother-in-law. If the old lady starts to nag, the maid will leave.


I cannot believe that maids can be that fussy.

I myself cannot afford to be that fussy in my job !

I think there are good maids and bad maids, regardless of the nationality.

Communication is definitely most important. The safest bet is to employ a maid who has worked in Singapore for at least 3 to 4 years for one employer only, in a family that speaks the same language as yours. Forget about those with working experience in Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc.


I am too lazy to use a dictionary My Indonesian maid has 6 years of working experience previously, and she can understand me perfectly.

I read somewhere that it is possible to bring in a maid from China. If you are really keen, you can try sourcing for one and write to MOM for approval.

I strongly urge employers not to take any maids who has less than 2 years working experience for one employer. Although some employers will argue that they have this type of maids who turn out to be good, not everyone is so lucky. Nowadays maids are so choosy, because they know that they can find new employers easily. If all of us only employ maids with at least 2 to 3 years of experience, then maids will not dare to be so fussy. Otherwise look for a maid who has no previous working experience and train her.

Hopefully employers can work together to improve the situation.

In fact, the best way to employ an experienced maid, is to insist on speaking to her ex-employers. We have so many problem maids, because employers simply believe in what maids and agencies say.

Taiwan employers are smarter than us. Maids who have their contracts terminated and sent back to their own country, will never be allowed to return to Taiwan to work. That is why we don't hear so many problems with maids in Taiwan. I hope that MOM can have this rule too.

[kiasimom]

Hi tamarind,


I agree that our gahment should take Taiwan as a reference.

In Hongkong, the maid is not allowed to transfer to another employer.
They have to leave Hongkong and re-apply to enter Hongkong if they want to work as a maid again.

With such rules, the maids are really appreciative and cautious.
Unlike in SG, they can change us as and when they like without imposing any penalties.

We have to attend lesson for the 5th replacement maid, how about the maid?
Do they have to be counsell by MOM if they change more than 4 employers a year?

Come on gahment, please be fair.
I have to say our gahment has indirectly condone the maid’s misbehaviour.

[Andaiz]

tamarind:

Taiwan employers are smarter than us. Maids who have their contracts terminated and sent back to their own country, will never be allowed to return to Taiwan to work. That is why we don't hear so many problems with maids in Taiwan. I hope that MOM can have this rule too.

[/b]

Ahhh.....Tamarind jie, you hit the nail on the head...the problem isn't with the degenerating quality of maids, it is with the fact that the floodgates are open to them even if they play punk, get sent home...can rest and enjoy Christmas with their family, then re-surface here with another agency. God help unsuspecting employers like us.

When I sent HRH back, my agency told me that they would not take her back as an applicant but cannot guarantee that any other agency wouldn't.
If this is so, she can re-enter even without changing her name (a method you've posted on your blog).

Kiasimom jie, I'm not one to like handouts from the gahment nor blame them for every wrong thing but this time, I really have to agree with you that the gahment is to be responsible for the arrogance of the helpers nowadays! :stupid: :stupid: how to increase population like that...mummies on this forum are already too stressed with their domestic helpers, and not being able to find proper infant care/child care...

Are we truly at the maid's mercy? I can't agree with you FTWM more...

[kiasimom]

Hi Andaiz dear,

Good morning to you!

That’s why we can only pour out our complains here and hope other employers can benefit from us.

To employ a maid, " At your own risks :!: "

I certainly hope my current one ( 3 months now ) can keep up with her performance

[Andaiz]

kiasimom:

I certainly hope my current one ( 3 months now ) can keep up with her performance

-ing with you too!

My new (2 weeks) is still a smart cookie and likes to make own decisions so this time over Christmas weekend kenna caught out by my MIL on some trivial issue but am getting an earful now from the older lady lo. :roll: Taking it all with a pinch of salt.

It's really a case of cavaet emptor - \"buyers beware\"!

[autumnbronze]

poison:

kiasimom:

Dear Posion and carebear,


I will advice you to consider seriously if you are planning to get a Myanmar maid.
You have to talk to her to ensure that she can understand you.

Language is the biggest barrier.
If both of you cannot communicate, it will be difficult to entrust the whole household chores to her.

So please consider carefully.

Thanks kiasimom, but i think i'm really left with not much choice, my agency only offers myanmar & filipinos & due to certain reasons, i can't change to other agency. & these filipinos are getting on my nerves, wad can i do?? :idea:

Hi Poison,

I had a friend who had a Myanmar maid. Her EL was quite good. Later on, I found out that she was a Uni grad.

Perhaps this piece of information might come in handy in the selection of your nxt maid??

[KopiYing]

My maid’s work permit is till 4 Jun 2010. We havent asked her whether she wish to continue or not.


Can I purchase 1-way air ticket now?

[kiasimom]

KopiYing:

My maid's work permit is till 4 Jun 2010. We havent asked her whether she wish to continue or not.


Can I purchase 1-way air ticket now?

You should first find out from her if she wants to continue working for you and whether you still want her to work for you.
It is too early to purchase a ticket now.

Usually you can buy 1 to 2 months in advance.