cher_06:

hey all,


Thanks for the support. The more I read about how maids off days should be legalised, the more incensed I am because my last 2 filippinos gave me nothing but bull shit day in and out. Finally employed a burmese maid and so far I am happy with her.

I think it is such a shame that we need laws to give our helper rest days. Why dont the government relook into how elderly parents look after their grandchildren, sometimes with no money and no off days for 365 days. Where are their so called rights?

We cannot compare Singaporean Salary with the domestic helpers' salary. Then why not look into some of these cleaners who are paid a salary of $600 and they have to pay for meals and housing. Foreign domestic helpers are not here as a talent like the expatriates who are skilled. They are unskilled workers, and because their own country cannot afford to give them jobs, we are giving them a job, which is more than what they are earning back home. If they feel the salary is too low, then dont come. It is just like us when we apply for jobs. If our employers do not give us the remuneration that we want, or ask us to work on Saturdays, we have the right to walk away. We never force the domestic helpers to work for us. They are not slaves, as what some Singaporeans have coined them, again the employers are misunderstood. We cannot compare ourselves to places like HK and Taiwan because firstly they do not have (or very little) foreign workers from India etc. The standard of living in HK is higher and their levy is low. In addition, the maids who go there usually worked in Singapore or Dubai before heading there, in that aspect, they are already trained.

We have to revist why domestic workers were introduced in the first place. They were introduced so that women can go into the workforce. Non-profit organizations have many times said that we should not rely on domestic helpers, but look at how much childcare and infant care cost now. In addition, when my kids fall sick, they cant go to school, in turn, I have to take leave, mostly urgent ones. It is a logistical problem. Today, our education system is so competitive, we want the best for our kids, and hence, household chores as much as possible, we would like to give it to our helpers. Without a helper, I am not able to supervise my child in her school work or spend quality time to even just read a book. Without a helper, my mother was not able to coach me in my studies as I was a very slow learner in primary school nor would she been able to continue to work so that she can afford the best education she can give by sending me overseas, something which I am forever grateful. Without the overseas education, which I would say is a 2nd chance, I will not be what I am today.

By the way, my helper 23 years ago found my sister on facebook after losing touch for the last 15years as we moved. She is now in Canada as a physiotherapist with a beautiful daughter. She has written many letters in the first 3 years which we still keep on how grateful she is for my mother who helped her to move to Canada.

I am not writing here to say how good of an employer I am. I believe most of us are. I am writing to tell those who think that employers are over working our maids or mistreating them to look at another perspective - that is if the helper is here to work and be committed, usually employers are grateful in return. We help each other. There are reasons why employers are not in favour with off days.

Unless we can relook into the entire issue holistically, then we can revisit this issue on maids.

cher_06:

hey all,

Thanks for the support. The more I read about how maids off days should be legalised, the more incensed I am because my last 2 filippinos gave me nothing but bull shit day in and out. Finally employed a burmese maid and so far I am happy with her.

I think it is such a shame that we need laws to give our helper rest days. Why dont the government relook into how elderly parents look after their grandchildren, sometimes with no money and no off days for 365 days. Where are their so called rights?

We cannot compare Singaporean Salary with the domestic helpers' salary. Then why not look into some of these cleaners who are paid a salary of $600 and they have to pay for meals and housing. Foreign domestic helpers are not here as a talent like the expatriates who are skilled. They are unskilled workers, and because their own country cannot afford to give them jobs, we are giving them a job, which is more than what they are earning back home. If they feel the salary is too low, then dont come. It is just like us when we apply for jobs. If our employers do not give us the remuneration that we want, or ask us to work on Saturdays, we have the right to walk away. We never force the domestic helpers to work for us. They are not slaves, as what some Singaporeans have coined them, again the employers are misunderstood. We cannot compare ourselves to places like HK and Taiwan because firstly they do not have (or very little) foreign workers from India etc. The standard of living in HK is higher and their levy is low. In addition, the maids who go there usually worked in Singapore or Dubai before heading there, in that aspect, they are already trained.

We have to revist why domestic workers were introduced in the first place. They were introduced so that women can go into the workforce. Non-profit organizations have many times said that we should not rely on domestic helpers, but look at how much childcare and infant care cost now. In addition, when my kids fall sick, they cant go to school, in turn, I have to take leave, mostly urgent ones. It is a logistical problem. Today, our education system is so competitive, we want the best for our kids, and hence, household chores as much as possible, we would like to give it to our helpers. Without a helper, I am not able to supervise my child in her school work or spend quality time to even just read a book. Without a helper, my mother was not able to coach me in my studies as I was a very slow learner in primary school nor would she been able to continue to work so that she can afford the best education she can give by sending me overseas, something which I am forever grateful. Without the overseas education, which I would say is a 2nd chance, I will not be what I am today.

By the way, my helper 23 years ago found my sister on facebook after losing touch for the last 15years as we moved. She is now in Canada as a physiotherapist with a beautiful daughter. She has written many letters in the first 3 years which we still keep on how grateful she is for my mother who helped her to move to Canada.

I am not writing here to say how good of an employer I am. I believe most of us are. I am writing to tell those who think that employers are over working our maids or mistreating them to look at another perspective - that is if the helper is here to work and be committed, usually employers are grateful in return. We help each other. There are reasons why employers are not in favour with off days.

Unless we can relook into the entire issue holistically, then we can revisit this issue on maids.

cher_06:

hey all,


Thanks for the support. The more I read about how maids off days should be legalised, the more incensed I am because my last 2 filippinos gave me nothing but bull shit day in and out. Finally employed a burmese maid and so far I am happy with her.

I think it is such a shame that we need laws to give our helper rest days. Why dont the government relook into how elderly parents look after their grandchildren, sometimes with no money and no off days for 365 days. Where are their so called rights?

We cannot compare Singaporean Salary with the domestic helpers' salary. Then why not look into some of these cleaners who are paid a salary of $600 and they have to pay for meals and housing. Foreign domestic helpers are not here as a talent like the expatriates who are skilled. They are unskilled workers, and because their own country cannot afford to give them jobs, we are giving them a job, which is more than what they are earning back home. If they feel the salary is too low, then dont come. It is just like us when we apply for jobs. If our employers do not give us the remuneration that we want, or ask us to work on Saturdays, we have the right to walk away. We never force the domestic helpers to work for us. They are not slaves, as what some Singaporeans have coined them, again the employers are misunderstood. We cannot compare ourselves to places like HK and Taiwan because firstly they do not have (or very little) foreign workers from India etc. The standard of living in HK is higher and their levy is low. In addition, the maids who go there usually worked in Singapore or Dubai before heading there, in that aspect, they are already trained.

We have to revist why domestic workers were introduced in the first place. They were introduced so that women can go into the workforce. Non-profit organizations have many times said that we should not rely on domestic helpers, but look at how much childcare and infant care cost now. In addition, when my kids fall sick, they cant go to school, in turn, I have to take leave, mostly urgent ones. It is a logistical problem. Today, our education system is so competitive, we want the best for our kids, and hence, household chores as much as possible, we would like to give it to our helpers. Without a helper, I am not able to supervise my child in her school work or spend quality time to even just read a book. Without a helper, my mother was not able to coach me in my studies as I was a very slow learner in primary school nor would she been able to continue to work so that she can afford the best education she can give by sending me overseas, something which I am forever grateful. Without the overseas education, which I would say is a 2nd chance, I will not be what I am today.

By the way, my helper 23 years ago found my sister on facebook after losing touch for the last 15years as we moved. She is now in Canada as a physiotherapist with a beautiful daughter. She has written many letters in the first 3 years which we still keep on how grateful she is for my mother who helped her to move to Canada.

I am not writing here to say how good of an employer I am. I believe most of us are. I am writing to tell those who think that employers are over working our maids or mistreating them to look at another perspective - that is if the helper is here to work and be committed, usually employers are grateful in return. We help each other. There are reasons why employers are not in favour with off days.

Unless we can relook into the entire issue holistically, then we can revisit this issue on maids.

cher_06:

After having 5 maid in a totality of 17 years, in which one of them worked for 10 years, honestly, for those who are here to work and earn money, they are not hard up for the off days. I believe most Singaporeans are not as ugly as what the media has potrayed. Most of us are mostly educated and are professionals looking for an extra help so that we can spend more time with our kids without having to worry about household chores, unlike in the early 90s or late 80s, where maids were first introduced and we hear of overworked maids because the demographics were different then.


My friend's maid has worked for 26 years in the family and she cant be bothered to go out even though her employer asked her to. The helper that stayed with me for 10 years, initially had off days every month, but after 2 months, she decided she wants the money. During her free time (which is probably once a month), she ask to go to the nearby mall for a few hours, and we are more than happy to oblige.

In my personal experience, I do not know if I can agree to a weekly off when my previous one has a monthly off and I find Gucci Bag, and Hotel 81 receipts in her. Before her off days, she is able to finish her contract and no big problems other than being nosey in the entire estate affairs.

Yes, I cannot interfere in her life, but if I feel threatened because of her lifestyle because I have kids at home, then I think I have every right to interfere. She is a DOMESTIC helper, she is not an employee like many of us here. She is part of my family - she lives and eat with me everyday and my children are with her, of course it matters who she is hanging out with and what she is doing. They have a choice if they want to work with off or no off days, which was specified in their contract.

Honestly, I do not think those who never had maids have a say whether off days should be legalized because they have not experience the full spectrum of the doings of the maids. Off days should be a mutual agreement between employer and their helpers, employers do not need the law.

cher_06:

After having 5 maid in a totality of 17 years, in which one of them worked for 10 years, honestly, for those who are here to work and earn money, they are not hard up for the off days. I believe most Singaporeans are not as ugly as what the media has potrayed. Most of us are mostly educated and are professionals looking for an extra help so that we can spend more time with our kids without having to worry about household chores, unlike in the early 90s or late 80s, where maids were first introduced and we hear of overworked maids because the demographics were different then.


My friend's maid has worked for 26 years in the family and she cant be bothered to go out even though her employer asked her to. The helper that stayed with me for 10 years, initially had off days every month, but after 2 months, she decided she wants the money. During her free time (which is probably once a month), she ask to go to the nearby mall for a few hours, and we are more than happy to oblige.

In my personal experience, I do not know if I can agree to a weekly off when my previous one has a monthly off and I find Gucci Bag, and Hotel 81 receipts in her. Before her off days, she is able to finish her contract and no big problems other than being nosey in the entire estate affairs.

Yes, I cannot interfere in her life, but if I feel threatened because of her lifestyle because I have kids at home, then I think I have every right to interfere. She is a DOMESTIC helper, she is not an employee like many of us here. She is part of my family - she lives and eat with me everyday and my children are with her, of course it matters who she is hanging out with and what she is doing. They have a choice if they want to work with off or no off days, which was specified in their contract.

Honestly, I do not think those who never had maids have a say whether off days should be legalized because they have not experience the full spectrum of the doings of the maids. Off days should be a mutual agreement between employer and their helpers, employers do not need the law.

cher_06:

After having 5 maid in a totality of 17 years, in which one of them worked for 10 years, honestly, for those who are here to work and earn money, they are not hard up for the off days. I believe most Singaporeans are not as ugly as what the media has potrayed. Most of us are mostly educated and are professionals looking for an extra help so that we can spend more time with our kids without having to worry about household chores, unlike in the early 90s or late 80s, where maids were first introduced and we hear of overworked maids because the demographics were different then.


My friend's maid has worked for 26 years in the family and she cant be bothered to go out even though her employer asked her to. The helper that stayed with me for 10 years, initially had off days every month, but after 2 months, she decided she wants the money. During her free time (which is probably once a month), she ask to go to the nearby mall for a few hours, and we are more than happy to oblige.

In my personal experience, I do not know if I can agree to a weekly off when my previous one has a monthly off and I find Gucci Bag, and Hotel 81 receipts in her. Before her off days, she is able to finish her contract and no big problems other than being nosey in the entire estate affairs.

Yes, I cannot interfere in her life, but if I feel threatened because of her lifestyle because I have kids at home, then I think I have every right to interfere. She is a DOMESTIC helper, she is not an employee like many of us here. She is part of my family - she lives and eat with me everyday and my children are with her, of course it matters who she is hanging out with and what she is doing. They have a choice if they want to work with off or no off days, which was specified in their contract.

Honestly, I do not think those who never had maids have a say whether off days should be legalized because they have not experience the full spectrum of the doings of the maids. Off days should be a mutual agreement between employer and their helpers, employers do not need the law.

cher_06:

After having 5 maid in a totality of 17 years, in which one of them worked for 10 years, honestly, for those who are here to work and earn money, they are not hard up for the off days. I believe most Singaporeans are not as ugly as what the media has potrayed. Most of us are mostly educated and are professionals looking for an extra help so that we can spend more time with our kids without having to worry about household chores, unlike in the early 90s or late 80s, where maids were first introduced and we hear of overworked maids because the demographics were different then.


My friend's maid has worked for 26 years in the family and she cant be bothered to go out even though her employer asked her to. The helper that stayed with me for 10 years, initially had off days every month, but after 2 months, she decided she wants the money. During her free time (which is probably once a month), she ask to go to the nearby mall for a few hours, and we are more than happy to oblige.

In my personal experience, I do not know if I can agree to a weekly off when my previous one has a monthly off and I find Gucci Bag, and Hotel 81 receipts in her. Before her off days, she is able to finish her contract and no big problems other than being nosey in the entire estate affairs.

Yes, I cannot interfere in her life, but if I feel threatened because of her lifestyle because I have kids at home, then I think I have every right to interfere. She is a DOMESTIC helper, she is not an employee like many of us here. She is part of my family - she lives and eat with me everyday and my children are with her, of course it matters who she is hanging out with and what she is doing. They have a choice if they want to work with off or no off days, which was specified in their contract.

Honestly, I do not think those who never had maids have a say whether off days should be legalized because they have not experience the full spectrum of the doings of the maids. Off days should be a mutual agreement between employer and their helpers, employers do not need the law.

cher_06:

After having 5 maid in a totality of 17 years, in which one of them worked for 10 years, honestly, for those who are here to work and earn money, they are not hard up for the off days. I believe most Singaporeans are not as ugly as what the media has potrayed. Most of us are mostly educated and are professionals looking for an extra help so that we can spend more time with our kids without having to worry about household chores, unlike in the early 90s or late 80s, where maids were first introduced and we hear of overworked maids because the demographics were different then.


My friend's maid has worked for 26 years in the family and she cant be bothered to go out even though her employer asked her to. The helper that stayed with me for 10 years, initially had off days every month, but after 2 months, she decided she wants the money. During her free time (which is probably once a month), she ask to go to the nearby mall for a few hours, and we are more than happy to oblige.

In my personal experience, I do not know if I can agree to a weekly off when my previous one has a monthly off and I find Gucci Bag, and Hotel 81 receipts in her. Before her off days, she is able to finish her contract and no big problems other than being nosey in the entire estate affairs.

Yes, I cannot interfere in her life, but if I feel threatened because of her lifestyle because I have kids at home, then I think I have every right to interfere. She is a DOMESTIC helper, she is not an employee like many of us here. She is part of my family - she lives and eat with me everyday and my children are with her, of course it matters who she is hanging out with and what she is doing. They have a choice if they want to work with off or no off days, which was specified in their contract.

Honestly, I do not think those who never had maids have a say whether off days should be legalized because they have not experience the full spectrum of the doings of the maids. Off days should be a mutual agreement between employer and their helpers, employers do not need the law.

cher_06:

After having 5 maid in a totality of 17 years, in which one of them worked for 10 years, honestly, for those who are here to work and earn money, they are not hard up for the off days. I believe most Singaporeans are not as ugly as what the media has potrayed. Most of us are mostly educated and are professionals looking for an extra help so that we can spend more time with our kids without having to worry about household chores, unlike in the early 90s or late 80s, where maids were first introduced and we hear of overworked maids because the demographics were different then.


My friend's maid has worked for 26 years in the family and she cant be bothered to go out even though her employer asked her to. The helper that stayed with me for 10 years, initially had off days every month, but after 2 months, she decided she wants the money. During her free time (which is probably once a month), she ask to go to the nearby mall for a few hours, and we are more than happy to oblige.

In my personal experience, I do not know if I can agree to a weekly off when my previous one has a monthly off and I find Gucci Bag, and Hotel 81 receipts in her. Before her off days, she is able to finish her contract and no big problems other than being nosey in the entire estate affairs.

Yes, I cannot interfere in her life, but if I feel threatened because of her lifestyle because I have kids at home, then I think I have every right to interfere. She is a DOMESTIC helper, she is not an employee like many of us here. She is part of my family - she lives and eat with me everyday and my children are with her, of course it matters who she is hanging out with and what she is doing. They have a choice if they want to work with off or no off days, which was specified in their contract.

Honestly, I do not think those who never had maids have a say whether off days should be legalized because they have not experience the full spectrum of the doings of the maids. Off days should be a mutual agreement between employer and their helpers, employers do not need the law.

Nebbermind:

How about owners to issue condoms to maid on day off....like our NS boys on overseas missions? :evil:

Nebbermind:

How about owners to issue condoms to maid on day off....like our NS boys on overseas missions? :evil:

jyeo639:

Most are willing to give a day off once a month but few are willing to give it every week.Both have valid points.Let me share my few cents worth:
-let maid agency employ part-time foreign helper as replacement when ours go offday.6 employers can sign package with agency to share 1 helper.
-to avoid adding more cost,employer should be allow to offset from their
fw levy or at least co-pay.
-a panel led by interest parties like officials & home embassies to help solve the details.
Since we pay salary & levies,we also deserved help to solve these problems.

Maid:

I do not have a maid at home and neither do I believe in having one, but I was very perturbed by this letter in The Straits Times today. In your opinion, do you think your maid deserves a day off every week? I personally think they do, what's your take?


My personal take of the following letter is that this employer is a bit too much.

The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.comPublished on Jun 22, 2011
CALL FOR WEEKLY DAY OFF
Who says domestic helpers are overworked?

IT IS true that maids should not be treated differently from other workers, and they need rest ('Consider law to give maids a day off every week: Halimah'; Monday). But do they really need one weekly day off for that? Do they not rest in the course of their work every day?

My current maid has a day off once a month. Every time she comes back from her outings, she appears even more tired and listless, and needs to recuperate from her outing. When she is not around, both my husband and I, who are teachers, have to juggle with the care of our toddlers (two and three years old), besides catching up with whatever work we have not completed in the week.

Singaporeans work very long hours too and while we do not work officially on weekends, many of us catch up with work on weekday evenings and weekends.

My maid has more than enough time to rest daily, when the kids are napping or when my older one is in kindergarten. My maid is the one who goes to bed by nine every night and my husband and I are the ones who are still up way beyond nine to tuck in our children and catch up with school work.

Are maids really that overworked? The many maids congregating and chatting away happily at my condominium on weekdays present a different picture.

My previous maid met her boyfriend on her day off and even while we were at work. I have also heard of other maids doing part-time work on their days off.

The slew of social problems that will result from a weekly day off is unthinkable.

And think of those taking care of old and disabled people. It will not be easy for someone else to take over their duties when they take their day off.

I urge the Government to consider carefully the many factors at play and the consequences of legislating a day off for maids.

Low Ai Choo (Madam)