All About Full-Time Maids

[carebear]

tamarind:

titank:

So far maids are from Phillipines, Indonesia & Myanmar. Wonder when would MOM open up for China maids?

It is possible to get a maid from China. I have heard one maid agency done it successfully before. That maid agency does not bring in China maids, it is just that a customer knew someone in China and the agency helped to do the paperwork with MOM. It is not straightforward, but it is definitely possible.

Actually I would suggest getting a maid who is over 50 years old from China. Then you don't have to worry about your hubby

I know many old ladies from China in my area (Jurong West), they are very healthy and more energetic than I am ! Many of them come to Singapore to help look after their grandchildren. They cook, clean and do everything.

If you are hoping that your kids learn to speak good Mandarin from them, then you have to look for those who are educated. I suppose they will be happy with RMB2000 to RMB2500 of salary(4.77RMB = 1 SGD), because the salary in China is very very low. I heard that one local food court(at Suntec City) employed university graduates from China to clear dirty plates :!:

Those over 50 years old have been through hardship (cultural revolution), so they will be more likely to work hard.

Hi tamarind, thanks for the info.
Employing a maid of that age will be good if you need a nanny for young kids.
However, i don't think it is a good idea to employ them if you need someone to clean your house well. As we know, our bodies somehow starts to malfuntion at that age. With all the aches and pain, it can be a chore doing housework!

[autumnbronze]

peapot:

Don't know why I post and post still can't achieve Kaisimom's status, sigh!

peapot,

You are so v v cute lah .... (referring to the above comment)

Kiasimom really 'talk' (ie work) hard to get her status ... must have her dedication ...

Never mind, take it easy, press on ... slow and steady will get the status ...

[BeautifulLife]

Has been feeling LOUSY since 6pm.

Finally plucked up enough courage to tell my maid (her 3rd year with me) that I would appreciate if she can leave us alone when me and hb or ds are talking to each other.
What always happen is my maid will either join in the conversation, giggled aloud or simply turn her face and look at us throughout our conversation. She will laugh out loudly when me and hb banters. A simple conversation like me teasing my hb that he seems to be taking up 2/3 of our bed nowadays can send her laughing out loud and happily.
I admit I am petty. Though I try to ignore by not acknowledging her comments, I still kinda feel intruded.
So, I don't know how I managed to just now, but I explained to her nicely that we need to have private time too. We don't want to hide in our room whenever we want to chat. Neither do we want her to stay in her room so that we can have private time. We don't mind that she is listening to our conversation (since everyone is in the living room), but just don't stare at us or add her 2 cents worth.
Oh my! She looked so shocked. She must have felt hurt. She is very comfortable with us and the 2 of us chit chat alot too. I guess she must have felt that she is afterall, not part of our family members, when I said what I said. I feel bad and lousy

[girlmum]

BeautifulLife:

Has been feeling LOUSY since 6pm.

Finally plucked up enough courage to tell my maid (her 3rd year with me) that I would appreciate if she can leave us alone when me and hb or ds are talking to each other.
What always happen is my maid will either join in the conversation, giggled aloud or simply turn her face and look at us throughout our conversation. She will laugh out loudly when me and hb banters. A simple conversation like me teasing my hb that he seems to be taking up 2/3 of our bed nowadays can send her laughing out loud and happily.
I admit I am petty. Though I try to ignore by not acknowledging her comments, I still kinda feel intruded.
So, I don't know how I managed to just now, but I explained to her nicely that we need to have private time too. We don't want to hide in our room whenever we want to chat. Neither do we want her to stay in her room so that we can have private time. We don't mind that she is listening to our conversation (since everyone is in the living room), but just don't stare at us or add her 2 cents worth.
Oh my! She looked so shocked. She must have felt hurt. She is very comfortable with us and the 2 of us chit chat alot too. I guess she must have felt that she is afterall, not part of our family members, when I said what I said. I feel bad and lousy

Hi BeautifulLife,

Hope you r feeling better after pouring yr woes out. I can fully understand how u feel now. I think u have made a right decision in telling yr maid to leave u alone when u r having a conversation with yr family. By bottling up yr :x will only strain yr relationship with yr maid.
Yes, I'm sure yr maid will feel hurt. Let her hv some \"cooling\" time to handle the shock. I would suggest that u talk to her again (tmr or sat) in private, assuring her that she is still a part of yr family. I guess both of u have quite a good rapport given the fact that u chitchat alot with her.
I used to hv 3 maids over a period of 8 yrs when my DD was younger. When they did something wrong, I would always tell them right away. Then after dinner when my maid is free or watching TV with us, I would take this opportunity to \"analyse\" the issue with her again.
Don't fret. I'm sure all will turn out fine.

Happy New Year! :celebrate:

[tamarind]

[quote]
Hi tamarind, thanks for the info.
Employing a maid of that age will be good if you need a nanny for young kids.
However, i don't think it is a good idea to employ them if you need someone to clean your house well. As we know, our bodies somehow starts to malfuntion at that age. With all the aches and pain, it can be a chore doing housework![/quote]I have seen many mainland Chinese 50 - 60 years old are still very strong and healthy. They are doing the full load of house work for their children and grand children ! Anyway, you are not going to need a maid for more than 10 years right ?

In fact, my mother had 2 cleaning jobs at the same time when she was 50+. She still had to come home to cook and do all the housework.

Women in that generation can take a lot of hardship. They are not the same as our generation

However, I do not advise anyone to take Indonesian or filipino maids over the age of 45. Women in those countries seem to age faster.

I know many employers like to employ young maids age 20+, thinking that they can do more work. But maids at this age give the most problems, many of them are lazy, cannot take any hardship, and they love to go out and chat on the handphones all the time.

My current Indonesian was 37 years old when I employed her, she is 41 years old this year. She is an excellent maid and so much more matured than younger maids. It is more important to find a maid who is mature and sensible, than a younger maid.

[peapot]

autumnbronze, agree that is hardwork on Kiasimom’s part. I just sit one corner and envy . Ha…ok I will be very relax at the same time.


Tamarind, agree that if husband is not faithful, nationality of maid does not matter but China girls are well known for their seduction skills lah! 1st time seduce may not work but I think men will not be able to resist after 3 or 4th time. They are afterall chinese, they know how and where and when to please a man. The industry I come from, has showed me enough examples. Infront of their wives, they behave very loving and caring but once in pubs they go wild with their china lovers. Think prevention is better than cure. Perhaps like what you say old China woman may work.

I also agree with you that its better to hire maids starting from late twenties and above. They are more matured and less likely to job hop. I have confirm a new maid who is 28 years old and after 2 years contract she should be 30 years old. I think less problem for me. My current maid after working for me 3 years is only 27 years old. She tells me most young maids just want to come to work as maids in Singapore as a stepping stone. She tells me "who will want to work as maids forever?" Once they get used to the life here and knows the people here, they will start looking around for other jobs. I believe she echos most young maid’s thinking. There’s nothing wrong with this thinking but for employers it means we have to go through re-hire process, re-train, take leave, face the risk of getting a worst maid than before etc. Inbetween, we will also face countless problems, so personally speaking I also prefer older maids.

[peapot]

Wow, beautifullife I never heard of maid intruding into employer’s conversation. I guess maid’s problem really covers all grounds!! Don’t feel bad about telling her what you think. Try to change and think of it this way "the maid won’t be with you forever, she’s only here to work. with salasry she works, without salary she will go off. Unlike family, they stay with you through thick and thin whether with or without money."


Infact, I just told me current maid of 3years not to close her room door at night. She’s using my gal’s room to sleep and even dare to lock the room one night. I told her straight away "who gives you the permission to lock the door?" She just kept quiet. I don’t even care if she feels hurt.
It’s a jungle world out there. We are the lioness in the family, we protect our territory. Ha…hope you don’t feel offended or something.

[peapot]

beautifullife, if you don’t mind me asking is this your first maid?

[autumnbronze]

BeautifulLife:

Has been feeling LOUSY since 6pm.

Finally plucked up enough courage to tell my maid (her 3rd year with me) that I would appreciate if she can leave us alone when me and hb or ds are talking to each other.
What always happen is my maid will either join in the conversation, giggled aloud or simply turn her face and look at us throughout our conversation. She will laugh out loudly when me and hb banters. A simple conversation like me teasing my hb that he seems to be taking up 2/3 of our bed nowadays can send her laughing out loud and happily.
I admit I am petty. Though I try to ignore by not acknowledging her comments, I still kinda feel intruded.
So, I don't know how I managed to just now, but I explained to her nicely that we need to have private time too. We don't want to hide in our room whenever we want to chat. Neither do we want her to stay in her room so that we can have private time. We don't mind that she is listening to our conversation (since everyone is in the living room), but just don't stare at us or add her 2 cents worth.
Oh my! She looked so shocked. She must have felt hurt. She is very comfortable with us and the 2 of us chit chat alot too. I guess she must have felt that she is afterall, not part of our family members, when I said what I said. I feel bad and lousy

Hi BeautifulLife,

Don't feel lousy, you did the right thing.

That said, you are fortunate to have a good r/s with your maid. And I do believe that your maid reacts accordingly because positively speaking, she feels a sense of belonging in your family - thanks to you. Also, if we try and put ourselves in their shoes ... these helpers may not understand when to butt in and out of others' affairs because I don't think they subscribe to that kind of 'etiquette' back in their own homes.

Perhaps you can try and explain to her about the need for privacy in general terms rather than targeting your family so as to make her understand the importance of it and at the same time diffuse the hurt that you think you may have caused her.

I believe that yes, helpers are outsiders and they will leave sooner or later ... but if they don't give you headaches and you have a good r/s with them, then all the more worth preserving and maintaining the r/s.

Just my 2 cents worth ...

[BeautifulLife]

Hi Peapot,


Yes, she is my 1st maid. Am a SAHM with 2 ds.