All About Full-Time Maids

[hquek]

gumiho:

Just found this article from the net.
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_638255.html

Thanks for the link. ... :salute: Thanks Ms Cheah.

Some bits that I really like from her letter.

The agencies were wrong to use wages as the sole yardstick in comparing Singapore with Hong Kong, when the respective terms of employment of the maids should also have been included.

In Hong Kong, no transfer is allowed. However unsatisfactory the working conditions, a maid must complete her contract. If her services are terminated, she must return home and pay stiff placement fees again.

In Singapore, a maid can break her contract and seek not one, but several transfers to enable her to continue earning a livelihood.

The period for processing applications can take as long as four to six months in Hong Kong, compared with Singapore's two-day process. So, the basis for salary increment does not hold water.
....
Passing on the bulk of the placement fee to an employer. which range from $2,800 to $3,500, is also wrong as it implies a hand-in-glove acquiescence by agencies here to the practices of unscrupulous suppliers.

The ploy also lets rogue agencies continue to make a quick buck at the expense of prospective employers and maids.

[verykiasu2010]

LKVM:

Why does MOM talks about Hong Kong and Taiwan when other things are very different :?

seems to be a verbatim repetition of what the Agencies said

is it really MOM position ? if so, they are out of touch with what is in HK and Taiwan versus Singapore, totally different regulatory environment. Can't compare durian with apple.....

[gumiho]

LKVM:

Why does MOM talks about Hong Kong and Taiwan when other things are very different :?

Precisely.
Why always compare us with HKG & TW ?

[hquek]

LKVM:

Guys read this


http://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/Pages/PressRepliesDetail.aspx?listid=172

Find it strange. Yes, as demand for maid goes up, there will be some salary adjustment upwards. Moderate adjustments I can tahan; but then a sudden increase to match HK/TW standards (when MY salary also not that level) is a bit hard to swallow. To me the quality has not gone up, but my cost has gone up.

When I first got a maid in 2004, the 'market' rate was $250. 5 years later when she said bye, I had to pay $330 (thereabouts). 1.5 years later, I am paying $360.

All these are for 1st-time-to-SG 'experienced' maids - and all are not able to look after young kids, all were unable to cook, and mostly their language skills would not have allowed them to order a meal outside.

[verykiasu2010]

gumiho:

LKVM:

Why does MOM talks about Hong Kong and Taiwan when other things are very different :?

Precisely.
Why always compare us with HKG & TW ?

somebody need to have a word with Minister Ong Kim Yong ....

[hquek]

gumiho:

LKVM:

Why does MOM talks about Hong Kong and Taiwan when other things are very different :?

Precisely.
Why always compare us with HKG & TW ?

I also cannot get over this point. When it comes to cost (taxi, maid etc), always we are compared with HKG & TW. But when come to salary, all keep very very quiet. I will be most happy to pay my maid HKG/TW equivalent when I get the same pay as TW/HKG counterpart.

[hquek]

LKVM:

My point is why agency is charging so much when anyways the maid have to pay in their home country?

brings to mind the imagery of fat sheep to the slaughter.

[gumiho]

verykiasu2010:

gumiho:

[quote=\"LKVM\"]Why does MOM talks about Hong Kong and Taiwan when other things are very different :?

Precisely.
Why always compare us with HKG & TW ?

somebody need to have a word with Minister Ong Kim Yong ....[/quote]The most easiest way is to alert him of this thread. :xedfingers:

[micollh]

gumiho:

The most easiest way is to alert him of this thread. :xedfingers:

Hope he reads man !

[gin_chua.021596yahoo.021596com.021596sg]

:x :x :x :x


http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/caught_in_the_act/563246/shower_or_torture_watch_how_this_maid_gives_toddler_a_wash.html