All About Full-Time Maids

[Karl12]

Dear mummies,

My helper is coming soon and its my first time getting helper.
So now busy getting things for her.
Can i check for mattress, i intend to get those foldable type to save space.
I went NTUC and saw some really cheap ones but its like sleeping on floor.
Is there ok ones which are affordable??

Also, i know its too late. But i paid an agency fees of $1,500 and another $321 for insurance fees. My frn told me its ridiculous. Now i feel being treated as carrot.
But this agency told me i can have unlimited replacement after 6 mths while other agency probable only have 1-2 replacement. And i am clueless abt market rate…

I had been to one at Far East Shopping who introduce maids whos experience dont telly with their MOM employment records. So when i went to this agency, who claim they only take in "quality" transfer maid. But now looking bac, it does sound v v exp… heard there are some who charges agency fees of $88!

[LOLMum]

If you are getting her a foldable mattress, get her a good one. Don’t buy those thin mattress. Check out sea horse brand.


Don’t know the current rate but if this agency said it supplies quality maids then why is there a need for unlimited replacements.

Getting a good maid really really depends on luck. I hope yours is a good one.

[peapot]

Don’t think there’s anymore $88 agency fees around. Actually the fees you pay may be the new fees hike reported recently in the papers.

[DesertWind]

I just paid almost SGD1,100 (including insurance) for my mother’s new maid under the old contract term. But replacement after May got to pay a fee of a few hundred dollars because going forward under new rules more expensive already. Today went to fetch her, seems ok, pleasant enough.

[autumnbronze]

DesertWind:

I just paid almost SGD1,100 (including insurance) for my mother's new maid under the old contract term. But replacement after May got to pay a fee of a few hundred dollars because going forward under new rules more expensive already. Today went to fetch her, seems ok, pleasant enough.

Best of luck to your mom, DesertWind :xedfingers:

[POA Teacher]

In late 90s, some agents were charging $0 or $1 for agency fee including insurance etc.

The maids were paying $1,000+ in fees.
Those were the days.

[LOLMum]

DesertWind:

I just paid almost SGD1,100 (including insurance) for my mother's new maid under the old contract term. But replacement after May got to pay a fee of a few hundred dollars because going forward under new rules more expensive already. Today went to fetch her, seems ok, pleasant enough.

all the best ! but watch that window.......watch that window.......

[Karl12]

Oh fee hikes?

Wrong timing for me…
Seems that everything has inflation, now even agency fees.

Thanks. I will check out seahorse.

[moonee]

Karl12:

Oh fee hikes?

Wrong timing for me...
Seems that everything has inflation, now even agency fees.

Thanks. I will check out seahorse.

yeah, I bot mine frm seahorse...plaza spore and tiong bahru plaza, mine cost 39, they hv different prices.... rather hard n heavy.

[Dnls_mum]

moonee:

MyFriend:

[quote=\"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'\"

yup, well said! I agree tat employers shld not feel bad about setting their own house rules. After all, we set rules for our childrens behaviour and a maid is an employee here under work permit to do a job. No one has the right to impose their personal preferences on us and tell us how to run our households.[/quote]
The word \" pariah\" was used because Moonee asked abt supplying separate jam butter and spread to the maid. I cannot see why jam butter and spread needs to be separated. One spreads their bread with a butter knife not hand. There is no contamination. So frankly, I did not see the need to separate. Be it President butter or Crabtree and Evelyn Jam that we eat, my maid eat those too. Again remember the original question is abt jam and spreads.

Next my statement of maid being treated like part of the family is pertaining to the issue and discussion on food here. She eats like one of the family. Off course she knows who is the boss and is not embraced in the bosom.

What I have overlooked is that not very employer can afford to feed their maids as well as they feed their family, thus now i understand why the differentiation is necessary.