Maid to get weekly rest days

[Harlequin]

Being an employer of FDW these years, I truly see the needs and also been through the associated "headaches" of having one.


Look around my friends’ households, I truly think getting a FDW is no longer a "luxury". All the pale-faces when late to pick up young children from childcares, mom and dad plus in laws just can’t cope with a few sets of grandchildren etc etc etc.

Although I am not sure scrapping levy is the "right" idea or not, this FDW issue has to be addressed if we want to see birth rate increase.

[tanya]

Sun_2010:

tanya:

If Ur Gonna Assume Everyone is as Rich and Generous as you. Then You Dont Know the Financial Strains of the Majority & Should Never Open Your Mouth While In This Thread Again...Simple As That...

I did not assume any such thing, stating my opinion as I am entitled to. In a civilized manner .

If you do not have net etiquette, then you should learn first.
And I seriously wonder how you treat your maid ?

And btw, thank you for assuming I am rich and generous.It feels good. Just for the records, I am not both.

My maid has been working for me for 5 years and continue on. I shant speak to an ignoramus. You shall have the whole forum to yourself. Bye!

[Harlequin]

Cool cool cool…

[Funz]

tanya:

Sun_2010:

[quote=\"tanya\"]If Ur Gonna Assume Everyone is as Rich and Generous as you. Then You Dont Know the Financial Strains of the Majority & Should Never Open Your Mouth While In This Thread Again...Simple As That...

I did not assume any such thing, stating my opinion as I am entitled to. In a civilized manner .

If you do not have net etiquette, then you should learn first.
And I seriously wonder how you treat your maid ?

And btw, thank you for assuming I am rich and generous.It feels good. Just for the records, I am not both.

My maid has been working for me for 5 years and continue on. I shant speak to an ignoramus. You shall have the whole forum to yourself. Bye![/quote]Oh my, how to push for any changes if the attitude is such?

[Coolkidsrock2]

dooelsie:

My relatives are in HK and as what everyone think, it is not alll true that the maids are paid US400. Some are paid lesser. Yes, we hv no tax since 2008, not all get off days weekly. It depends. There are many maids working for employers relatives houses for US400 and none complain cos they need the money. A lot work more than 12 hrs a day, there are some that dont meet expectation n are sometimes not paid or paid much later.

Sleeping conditions may not b all that comfortable at times too as houses are normally considered quite big when its 500 sq ft. So singapore is heaven to some who have worked in HK

I agree.

Working in Hong Kong is not a bed a roses for the maids. Accomodation is not provided for all and they have to rent a caged bed space as well as travel to and fro to the employer's home.

For those who are staying in their employer's home, some sleep on the kitchen floor at night (property prices are high and most do not have extra space for them) while there are others who are not allowed to use the water heater in winter.

I know a couple of neighbours' maids who were previously rejected in Hong Kong or who called their former Singaporean employers, crying, hoping to get their job back.

The comparison had always been about higher pay but the conditions are not necessarily better. Expectations are higher and the pace is faster.

[POA Teacher]

I doubt that they would scrap the levy.


I have a different suggestion though. But not likely to be accepted either.
Part of the levy (a fixed $ amount, not a %, as different employers pay different amt) should be treated as a bonus for maids who complete ~ a 2-yr contract with employer. This would benefit both the maids and the employers as maids would then be less likely to keep switching employers for petty reasons.

[Mephiro]

Hi all,

Feel free to contribute your suggestions here, I will consolidate it and put it at our coming petition page, may be can change the title too. Cheers!

[nms1]

POA Teacher:

I doubt that they would scrap the levy.


I have a different suggestion though. But not likely to be accepted either.
Part of the levy (a fixed $ amount, not a %, as different employers pay different amt) should be treated as a bonus for maids who complete ~ a 2-yr contract with employer. This would benefit both the maids and the employers as maids would then be less likely to keep switching employers for petty reasons.

I'm not sure how hard this would be to administer but I think it is a good idea in that, while it doesn't directly reduce the cost for the employer, it does address the issues of salary levels in comparison with other countries and also helps to address the issue of job-hopping by maids which will reduce cost indirectly if employers don't need to employ a new maid so frequently.

[Linlin]

Giving maid weekly off might be good for some employer but not with those having young children. Also even some maids agree that maids that want rest is not serious in working. I’ve Philippine and indo maids before and they are the one telling me when they don’t want off. Off to them need to use money and the purpose for them to go overseas to work is because of Money and farmers like them work everyday and their earning is not a lot like $100sgd or even lesser.


For some employers info, maid took leave to work part timer cleaner to earn money. If you think you maid took leave is not to out with bf or friends then try going places to post you need part time cleaner and u will definitely receive maids working here pm u for job.

After reading some posts, I realised most is talking about themselves like one or two children.
*But please look at bigger picture:
-you might not have many children
-your children healthy and don’t require medical support or help kind
-you don’t have any old aged or old aged that need special care or help.

If parents or children like us that fall in any of these points… then we must try our best to earn more income definitely don’t have time to be at home then a helper role is important.
Please look at bigger picture and put yourself into others shoe… If giving maid weekly off they can be better responsible adult not having BGR, money, baby, sick, theft and attitude problems then who will disagree? When they off, we need to arrange someone to take care and they still bring back problems for u do u think every employers got extra time for them to settle maid problems?

You can voice out here but when u do so please be considerate of others then yourself…

[nms1]

Linlin:

Giving maid weekly off might be good for some employer but not with those having young children. Also even some maids agree that maids that want rest is not serious in working. I've Philippine and indo maids before and they are the one telling me when they don't want off. Off to them need to use money and the purpose for them to go overseas to work is because of Money and farmers like them work everyday and their earning is not a lot like $100sgd or even lesser.


For some employers info, maid took leave to work part timer cleaner to earn money. If you think you maid took leave is not to out with bf or friends then try going places to post you need part time cleaner and u will definitely receive maids working here pm u for job.

While I agree that those with sick or disabled family members may need to find alternative care when their maid has a day off, I do not think that this applies to those of use with young children. Are we really not able to take care of our own children for ONE day a week?

I do think there is an issue with maids who don't want to take a day off. One solution, if you really don't want to or can't afford to pay her, is just to say that it is her day off and if she doesn't want to go out she can just stay at home. I know not everyone is comfortable with it but I think if I was in their position I might appreciate the chance to just laze around for a day

Our maid renewed in November so we didn't have to give her a day off. We agreed that she could take the day off when she wanted but if she wanted to stay at home she could and if she wanted to come to church then to lunch with us that was also OK. She ends up going out most weeks but has said she will come with us this week (as she is broke and waiting for her ang pow before she can afford to go anywhere )