Maid to get weekly rest days

[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 )

[POA Teacher]

nms1:

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

Agree with you.
Give the maid the day off, and spend the day bonding with your children.

[mwchua]

If we really want to level the so-called playing field and make sure that Singapore does not become the “stepping stone” for frivolous maid to come and see-see look-look only, we might want to consider:


1. Similar to HK and Taiwan (based on what I heard from agent), disallow transfer of employers and the maid has to bear all expenses with repatriation. There should be a central database of all maids who do not complete 2 years’ contract and bar them from coming again within a certain timeframe.

2. Have weekly maids off, but employer is not liable for whatever nonsense they created outside.

3. Have more clarity as to the usage of levy, in addition to just being the stick for “controlling” the number of maids here. Why not have a central dormitory for maids, who have to pay a nominal sum for lodging there, while the levy can also be used to partially off-set the dormitory cost?

With the current system, the maid does not have a vested interest in coming to Singapore, as they can change employer countless times and yet not be penalized in anyway, ironically it’s the employer who will be penalized. The agent will also be laughing their way to the bank under the current system, as they earn more fees from both the employers & maids the more times transfer happens.

If we can make the maid be more serious in their mindset about completing their contract before coming, all the inconvenience and agony of maid issues may perhaps be minimized. As working mothers, it is extremely disruptive if maid, out of the blue, wants to transfer, through no fault of our own.

I have 3 maids in the last 10 years. The most recent one has been with me for 5 years. It is ironical that while their pay increment far outstrips my personal work increment, but yet the mindset of wanting to work is fast disappearing.

I shudder to think of the new maid search process I need to go through again once my current maid returns home this June :stupid:

[Linlin]

Have weekly maids off, but employer is not liable for whatever nonsense they created outside.


I agree!

Also if u allow your maid to have hand phone please don’t let her influence other maids. My aunt maid didn’t have hp initially then other people maid approach her to get one and she agree but she didn’t have borrow so she just take the hp and pay later then the person going back her country and chase my aunt maid for money and the maid got no intention to pay too that’s the reason she didn’t even mention to my aunt about the hp and bring a lot of problems to my aunt. After the hp discovered, the stories of bangla bfs etc that is when we found out about how they recommend men for each other. I don’t encourage my helper finding true love here coz the main purpose is to come here to work if not government wont ask them to leave if they’re pregnant…

[wandabfree]

I have one suggestion whereby if a maid wants to breach contract and go home, get them to apply to MOM to use maid levy to pay for their own airfare. This would be subjected to MOM’s approval.


This would deter maids to happily throw in the towel anytime they wish. MOM then has to be on their toes and interview these errant maids. If maids shout foul by employer, ask for proof. As long as we have provided maids with the basic necessities and adhere with MOM rulings, we should not be afraid.

[Harlequin]

Some maids' decision to work overseas are not entirely thier own, family members like their parents/husbands/in-laws decide it, and go ahead to sign them up to the agent despite of their protest.

My ex maid was sent to SG under such circumstances, throughout the 3+ months working with us, her tears never stopped. Towards the last month she was not even doing any house works nor eating much. Took me so long to finally get to the truth, that she was \"forced\" by her PIL to work overseas, she was really homesick and missed her child, all she wanted was to go home. How could I not grant her? :sad: