FQW:

znzyzyzx:

The plan was to give $1000 for each year of service, subject to a maximum cap. So by stealing about two hundreds, she missed out on a few thousand

From the post above, znyzyzx stated that she would have given much more if not for the act of theft (she gave $2K eventually but her maid had worked for her for 6 yrs). So in her way, this is considered punishment already for the maid's indiscretion.

It just goes to show that some employers are more tolerant and forgiving; others are stricter and no-nonsense. A few months back, I read of this woman who bequeathed a tidy sum of a few million bucks to her long serving maid in the ST.

So extremely generous employers do exist. Let's not cast aspersion on others who do so. And as to what lesson is she teaching her children, to me it'll be to forgive is divine.

Been following the thread too.

The message: It is all right to steal (after all it is only about two hundred dollars. You will still get your year end bonus. I will deduct your 'stealing\" from your year end bonus. I am wondering what will be deducted for forgery (if it is also only for two hundred dollars) or just taking the ATM card for a small withdrawal of only two hundred dollars etc etc

It has got nothing to do with generosity so let's not confuse STEALING with GENEROSITY.

Have you heard of any GENEROUS organization that condones stealing by rewarding their employees by deducting from the 13th month or bonus by the amount stolen?

Amongst other things there are two which are most worrying:


"Also she is claiming that she is doing some business (trying to bring in filipino maids and also selling some stuff).

Real scary here. You can potenitally be harbouring someone for running a illegal business. Do you want to take that risk too?

She is telling ‘let me see whom u get, who will not use a handphone and will be nice to your kids’… I am scared of that also. What if the next one is worse than hers…

Sounds like your maid is giving you a hidden threat, and scaring you. Do you like this? She is going to use this on and on in the future for whatever things that she is going to demand from you. Are you prepared to be "blackmailed" by this?.

Yes the next one could be worse but the other 50% says it could be better than her. Where do you get your maids from. Same old agency? New maids? Transferred maids. You have to decide.

You and your hubby should have a good talk on this. I know what I will do (and there is not even the slightest hesitation on my part) but then you have to live with her. I am highlighting two issues that both of you should really discussed in depth and make your decision. You are sitting on a time bomb

b2b3m4:

I agree with Sad citizen. We should stop bringing in Indonesian help. In fact we should beong reliant on foreign help. No point saying that we do not want to be taken for ride and still go around looking for other foreigners for help.

Don't think we are in a position to stop bringing in Indonesian maids. The agencies control that. Just don't use them and the agencies will not be that stupid to keep bringing them in.

In this thread you already have one poster looking for an Indonesian maid!! With employers like this, how do you ever get things done? The agencies know it and they are probably laughing at us stupid employers.

Food for thought??

sad citizen:

FDW employers need to stand up together and protect our interest. We must ensure we paid and received quality service from agency and FDWs.

Agree but employers just keep using agencies that do not provided quality maids. Just don't use them and let them go out of business so that the better ones will have more business.

Every time we post on forum or email to MOM, did it create a wave? I guess most just vent on forum but didn't really feedback to PAP.

MOM is PAP! Isn't the minister from PAP?

We need to send email, post on Facebook, whatever available to let the decision makers know. We cannot continue to give in and be easy to prey on.

Sending to MOM is not enough, email should also goes to your MP and
[email protected]
Minister for Manpower [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

You are right again. But how many employers really do that. Like I said before, thy just complain and make a lot of noise and then meekly accept what is thrust upon them

btw, not long ago MOM has a facebook pg, MOS Tan talking about Indonesian fell to death and commented employer are fully responsible for FDW's safety. That 'thread' has been deleted due to some posters, dare to highlight the truth. I believe MOM will continue to cover all our grievances as long as we obediently pay agencies and levy.... showed we can manage.... a bit of noise and grumbles but eventally, we'll accept what's thrown to us. Sporeans are guai guai people, we don't go on strike or boycott as it is illegal. Not many want to stand in the way of PAP and its govt bodies.... like egg hitting stone.

Did you not read the one on heaping praise on the maids and saying that all mummies should be beholden to the maids. Without the maids you do not even have the opportunity of developing your careers!!.

Maybe what he said is true. Employers are desperate to have maids so they keep their mouths shut.

janet_lee88:

I enquired about indon maid for brother's wife who is expecting.

Presently, there are no new bio data bcos their govt are limiting their women out to be maids. Maid will be placed at mum's place as both are working.
We haven't had maid for the past 6 years after sending off last filipino maid...imagine our shock when we heard the agent fee is so ex now...and there are no new maids, not even for transfer.
Not keen to have Filipino. Didn't hear good reviews about myanmar ones either.

With a baby, it's not possible to have part-time as there are many chores especially with newborn. Wonder if govt can consider bringing in domestic workers from other countries. They can have off days, but what they do during their days off shouldn't be parked under employers' responsibility...for eg pregnancy and affairs and inviting the lovers into the house.

The topic here is not to hire Indonesian maids BUT you go look for them???
Did not read the beginning or just could not care?

sad citizen:

Should we stay clear from hiring Indonesians... at least a year?

Agree.

Unless employers are willing to do something, they will continue to be bullied.

The agents are \"crying\" about more work and how difficult to get on line etc because of the new regulation. Before long the \"crying\" will be converted to demanding more agency fees because of this.

The we will have the daft employers who will say: What can we do?...We have no choice!...We urgently need a maid...The govt is not helping us...We are at the mercy of the agencies....and plenty more if you bother to read in this forum.

They will complain and will do nothing unlike you who at least suggest what employers can do to stop agencies from taking advantage of employers.

I respect you for this.

Now is to put it to a test and see how many will respond to your post and if there are better ideas and suggestions put a stop to unfairness that employers have suffered for so long.

It will be interesting to see what the responses (if any) are going to be.

dooelsie:

I do not take jam, peanut butter, etc, since the doctor says I have to control my sugar intake. That means I buy my maid her own spreads. But even if I could take sweet stuff, I will still buy my maid her own jam, etc. It is up to each employer to set the house rules and it has absolutely nothing to do with treating your maid as a 'pariah'. Employers should not be made to feel guilty for not embracing their maids into their family's bosom just because she works in their household. Let's be very clear - a maid is an employee, not your blood relative. So long as she is fairly and respectfully treated, it is up to individual employers to decide for themselves how close a working relationship they want with their maid. To avoid any misunderstanding, I prefer to draw the line and keep things on a 'professional' level. That is not to say that we do not share a few jokes now and then, and my maid knows that she can always turn to me for help and advice if she has any problems. This has worked very well for both of us and my maid is into her third contract with me.

Well said. Absolutely agree.

\"Employers should not be made to feel guilty for not embracing their maids into their family's bosom just because she works in their household. Let's be very clear - a maid is an employee, not your blood relative. So long as she is fairly and respectfully treated, it is up to individual employers to decide for themselves how close a working relationship they want with their maid......It is up to each employer to set the house rules and it has absolutely nothing to do with treating your maid as a 'pariah'\"

africatwin,


Since you had the chance of attending the seminar with a lot of questions and answers by MOM, would you mind sharing with us what MOM has decided in the definition of a "rest day" i.e the period that a maid can leave the employer’s house and the return time?

DesertWind:

Dear Karl12,


Please be careful which maid agency you are using too! If the maid agency is a \"one man show\" ie. small outfit, it is likely they will make you take multiple-transfer maid. Passing the problem maid round and round to unsuspecting employer, then blame the employer for being unlucky!

I use Nations for all my maids. This agency at least is already large and established and they won't anyhow introduce transfer maids to other employers. Also will help the employer. Fees not cheap for sure but at least from my experience, the maids we got were OK!

Larger maid agencies can have better resources as well for selection of maids.

Although there is definitely no guarantee at the end of the day but at least we hope potential problems will be minimized.

All the best!

My neighbour used Nation too.

The last maid (Indo) not only stole from them but brought in a man into their home! This was the last straw and they made a police report and send the maid home.

The previous one (also Indo) was from Nation too Had to be sent home as she was creating a lot of internal problems for the family. My neighbour found a ring in her possession and she claimed that she found it on the road. My neighbour told the maid that she must be very lucky as he has been staying there for more than 20 years and have never yet to find a 10 cent coin!

My neighbour has now decided to change agency. The big ones who charge more are not necessary doing a better job in screening better maids. They are there to make your money. If they charge more they make more money.

I thought that Nation was one of those agencies who were fined for price fixing with some others!!

So paying more does not equate to getting better maids :moneyflies: