My worse was getting clothes bleached and smoking in my home.


I feel u…

I soooo definitely agree with u…


It works both ways oso. There are also incidences where some employers get good helpers but don’t appreciate them (I read at the other forum about full time helpers). When the helper run to another employer yet stick to that employer, you blame it on the helper and employer but not themself. So most of the time, engaging a helper is really down to luck. If u get the best of it, then cherish it. If you don’t get a good one, it’s just "dumb luck".

Yeah… I read about the pay raise. The new P is just looking out for his ppl, but what he didn’t realise not all his ppl are quality working ppl that we can send home when they are not performing. Here in sg, when u don’t perform u are forced to resign, when helpers don’t perform, some employers are stuck with them or face losses with agencies when returned back. They should also consider what happens for us too… Both ways… we have to abide by that, what can they guarantee us then?


Yes, Thank GOD for me that I don’t face that anymore. But its just a thought for some of my friends who actually go through that.

Amberglades:

Anyone knows whether Indonesia has abolished the KTKLN requirement? My Indon helper going for home leave in Dec15 but she doesn't want to apply for the KTKLN. I am worried that she cannot return

If she is confident enough to go thru the immigration, shouldn't be a problem. You cannot be mumbling or stutter wjen was asked a question. Like I mentioned before, sometimes it's all by luck... Helpers do not want to do the KTKLN coz it's pricey in their country and the process is really hectic... That's what my 1st helper told me. 1st helper comes in thru Surabaya. 2nd helper (my mum helper) is thru Batam.

Hi All,

Recently I took another Helper, a relative friend, to come work for my parents as their helper. This is the recent update since the last changes to the ruling of the new P.

1) Yes Indonesian Embassy strictly do not allow us Singaporean to direct hire a helper. That's because in their perspective, there is no one to look out for the helper if anything were to go wrong. If they are attached to an agency, with or without loan, at any point, the helper can choose to go to the agency again to settle any disputes.

2) The contracts I have is only useful if you are letting the helper to travel thru major airports like Juanda Airport in Surabaya. This method I used during hire of my 1st helper. The contracts are used as KTKLN card application. (For those who are unsure, KTKLN is like a work permit to allow Indo citizen to work overseas and the KTKLN is inclusive of insurance.

3) Recently, I actually took another Helper but I was trying out to see if I could let her go through Batam (This method was tried by other employers. Some made it thru some did not.) This method clearly does not guarantee but I went to try another way.

3A) While I was on a trip to Batam, I met with an aquaintance. He offered me to bring and handle the helper. The cost is SG $500. I had to handle the IPA Application and insurance, flight from their home to Batam (domestic flight is much much cheaper than travelling into sg straight). This $500, it will include transportation from Batam Airport to ferry teminal, ferry ticket and all others (I not sure what is the others but I am sure it must be \"tipping\" the \"gatemaster\"). All that is required is an email of the IPA and insurance sent to him plus flight details and name of helper for him to arrange pick up at airport. This method got thru and the helper is now with me.

If u ask me, do I trust the guy? 1st ly he got my helper thru. So that's good news. 2nd ly his guarantee was transfer when ur helper is at the batam ctr ferry terminal and not before or after. I am at constant contact with the helper so it was assuring that way. That time I was thinking, I rather risk $500 then to pay 4k to the agency who gets things done what I could. So since it worked, might as well I share it to the employers. Anyway the aquaintance has a Singapore number (contactable only thru whatsapp) and Singapore account. So that's another reason why I went ahead with the process.

For us all, Singapore is very transparent but in Indonesia, the law is still very vague. Information use at ur own discretion... I am not liable in any ways or any contents that is used by others.

I am still contactable at [email protected] but I will reply at my own time as I am a wife, working mother of 4 and a student. You may email me your contact no and I will reply you den. Also can that way I can answer your questions more efficiently. Thank u and good luck.. :xedfingers:

P.S. pls dun ask if I am an agent coz I really am NOT. I do my study (read up, calls and ask the other helpers) and really find out all this info. I have to save the money for my kids than give to the agency for something I can do myself. :thankyou:

Yes, usually helpers who comes into SG do not have KTKLN as they went through the "backdoor" of the immigration. These syndicates been around very long to cut costs. That is why it is possible that happening.


There is very high chance she might not get her KTKLN card there since now the president stops all helpes from working overseas unless u get the official letter from Embassy Indo in Singapore. The embassy will write a proper contract between you and your helper, this official way guarantees her KTKLN card approved and exit from Indo.

Else there is always, "take the risk method". If this way, whether she knows how to handle the immigration or not.

It’s quite interesting to know that the "working contract" officially from Indonesia embassy in Sg will cause a hold up at the airport.

Quote "So here is the problem : as we can see from the sharing of experience by some mummies here in this thread and others. If you have got the "working contract" done from Indonesia Embassy here for your maid to make a KTKLN back home in Indonesia and she shows the KTKLN to the immigration officer then she may get stuck over at the airport? "
I may be wrong but to my knowledge and shared experiences from other employers, there has been never a case of held up with a valid KTKLN at the airport. This is to my knowledge, if the "working contract" done by the embassy, they have an official stamp to indicate that this contract is legit and agreed upon by both employer and employee.
Quote "If the immigration officer ask "Who is your PT? " and the maid say "I don’t follow PT, my Singapore employer do everything herself " and the immigration officer say "This is illegal , our Government say can not direct-hire without PT agent!" Then what would happen to the maid there and ourselves over here?"
If it is illegal at the first place, the Indonesia Embassy here would not have certify the "working contact". If it was considered illegal claimed by the immigration, than its the issue between the immigration and embassy. That is why it is always encourage to have a copy of all working contract.

Immigration cannot hold back with a valid KTKLN but on the other hand, immigration will likely take advantage of those without. Only then they will use the "where’s ur PT" card.
Yes, KTKLN is used to track the helpers while working overseas. Those without and goes through immigration with the PT agents are the ones actually to be careful of. Indonesia Embassy in Singapore is very helpful if any of their citizens in Singapore is being abused in anyways. I know because I helped a couple of Helpers.
My mum speaks fluent javanese, I didn’t have that skill… Helpers from her neighbourhood will come forth if they are being abused. But we don’t get ourselves involved unless it’s pretty obvious.

So the usual main concern is how to get the official KTKLN. And to get the KTKLN, you need a contract. So the held up is usually at the KTKLN office not at the airport. And the "negotiations" is usually done at the KTKLN office. Which should take place a few days/weeks before the flight.

If any of my info is inaccurate, I truly apologise. Coz I am only sharing what I been thru and what people shared with me. Thank you

To add on, yes even myself as a malay do have issues communicating with them. But I have seen also chinese and malay employers engaging myanmar helpers. Either way communication is still the barrier. You may eventually take the time to find a way to communicate if u really want to save that extra cash. For myself, every single savings count with 4 kids, although both of us are werking.


I have ever suggested a Chinese fren to use Google translate… mostly worked. Sometimes Google translate can come out weird… Although I am malay, I teach my helper English and actually got her an ipad (with massive site blocks and returned after she finish her contract) so that she can surf. Some articles are in English and I taught her how to use Google translate app.

Hi Kwanyin85,

Thank you for sharing your story. Sorry to hear what ur Bro had to go thru. Yes the process of finding a helper is very tedious. Been through that myself also when I needed to send back my old helper and get a replacement. I have a total of 5 helpers in the span of 6 years. 1 was caught stealing, 1 wanted to go home because she was home sick, 1 was caught by MOM for fake details. The remaining 2 finished their contract, where the other 1 of them continued her contract and currently with me. But the steps I gave is usually for those who are interested to get their old helper back without the need to go thru agency. But den again, there were some who actually manage to find new helper through this method too. It’s jus a matter of perseverence and the time u have. You can either choose to spend the time n have the patience, or you may choose to jus take the highway road by engaging an agency.

There is one particular person I remember helping, she went a little further by going to batam and engaging a helper by going to an agency there on her own. The interview was done dere on the spot. She did save a lot too by cutting out sg agency.

There are many ways of doing it. It’s up to u how u want to be creative about it.

Issit me or autumnleaves76 does sounds like an agent…


Actually that’s what I advised some of those who came to me… FYI some made it some didn’t. Mayb difference as mentioned is batam team handles the situation … May or may not be better…
pro: the batam team knows their customs well… they know who n where to handle…
cons: they have the upper hand, they can always request for more when more ppl approaches them (automatically becomes an agency)…