Tips For Selecting A Maid (FDW)
Just to share the measures you can take to protect yourself if you employ a FDW.
Look for an agency that accepts post-dated cheques. Reason: When there is a dispute, you do not have to worry that your whole loan repayment for current maid will be forfeited. Although the agency fee will be slightly higher, it beats having the whole loan amount forfeited. You are in control of the money as the cheques are post-dated and you can cancel them if need arises.
Never believe an agency that you CANNOT cancel your maid work permit. YOU CAN. Reason: When the maid has outstanding loan, they don't want you to cancel the permit as it will be difficult for them to sell your maid to another employer. They will want to re-market the maid to another employer till the maid settles her loan with the agency. Just bear in mind that if you cancel her permit, you have to bear the repatriation cost.
Always read the entire agreement. Always take the effort to read through the entire agreement. Never sign blindly as there are clauses that are tricky and will not benefit the employer. Once you ink the agreement, you are contractually binded.
Look out for clauses that state your stand if the maid runs away, commits an offence or pregnant. Find out what can the agency do to help you.
Free replacement of maids. Always ask in details. Be very careful if the replacement is unlimited as it will be too good to be true. Always ask the terms and conditions for replacement. Some agencies will not replace you with another maid if you repatriate your current maid even if she has committed an offence.
Go to big and reputable companies. As in buying, always go to reputable companies that had been around for many years. Small agency may charge you $1 agency fee and who knows few months down the road, they will just fold up.
Always ask for a timeline. For new maids, it may take 1 month for her to arrive. Ask the agency for a timeline, if they cannot deliver a maid, are you entitled to a refund if you cannot choose a suitable maid from their biodatas? This is very important or else you may just lose all the money and time waiting.
For transfer maids, ask to speak to the previous employer. Do not just believe what the agent and the maid says as the story might have been fabricated.
When the maid is here, make sure that it is the same maid that you have chosen. Always ask if they have friends, relatives or boyfriend in Singapore.
Always check the belongings. Do not leave things to chance.
If your maid has no off days, make sure she signs on the agreement letter that she is aware and agreeable to that. You won't know what will happen in future.
Draft out a timetable for the maid. Orientate her and ask her to follow the timetable for the first month.
Tell her about the rules and regulations on the first day. Do not wait till she does something wrong then you tell her off. She will feel unjustified.
Tell her if you will like her hair to be short or she can keep it long. Be very clear about it.
Hope the above helps and may prospective employers find a good maid soon 
P.S. Always find a maid that can understand and speak your language especially if you are a FTWM or FTWF.
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House rules
Always insists on original rules in contract. I reminded mine in her 2nd, 3rd and some mths later-kept reminding her no hp, gossiping, day off-trust all of us here-when she got the chance to go out wif my toddler-problems arose-all connected to learning from other maids who had hp, so she had one, followed by guys' issue. I really am angry with others who allow their maids to hang around void decks with their hps, influencing the new maids. With hps, gossips, chats, guys' problems will come about. I am in anguish now coz i just found my little child doing the sexuality act with a toy!!! Wherever did my toddler learn that from! To those madams who still allow their maids to leave the house much earlier to chat when they pick up the little ones from school, please think twice when i tell you that a K2 kid crossed the road as it was the usual routine after kindergarten was over, not knowing that the maid was still talking to another at the edge of the roadside, who did not see the little girl crossing the road on her own!! And another was talking happily on the hp while the K2 kid was crossing the road without his hands being held at the traffic junction! Please disallow all maids from hps..unless they are very good and loyal and can be trusted to take care of the little ones sincerely from their hearts.
mum in anguish
After reading a fair
After reading a fair number of your experiences, I really emphathised what are going on, as some of the incidents happened to myself n many of my friends and loved ones. I wished I do not need to engage their services sooner as my patience n kindness are being tested n taken for granted.
Has anyone employed a Myanmar maid and how do they fair? I hv one for about 18 mths n recently she asked if she does not want to go back after the 2 yr contract for a holiday, what would I give her? (Airfare equavilent $? What else??)
Anyone could advice what is the MOM advice or the market practice pls? Thanks lots.
I don't allow my maid to
I don't allow my maid to have handphone. You never know who she
is keeping contacts with.
My previous maid of two years did have a HP and this HP is always
beside her. She will keep looking at her phone.
Was pretty uncomfortable with her keep looking for new
messages and missed calls.
From then onwards, all maids of mine are not allowed HP.
Maid demand for handphone
My maid also demand for handphone. Actually before we have told her that no handphone is allowed and she has agreed on it. I always allow her to use my housephone everytime she asked for it.
But who knows that when she took leave, she complaint to the agent that we did not allow her to buy handphone. She even threatening me if I do not allow her to buy handphone, she don't want to work for me anymore. Finally I forced to allow her to have handphone.
Any suggestion on handphone rules?
I have all the house rules
I have all the house rules for my maids when they first arrived.After when they are more exp, they will break the rules.For instance, starts to keep long nails,long hair, demand for off days, hp even in contract, everything is NO.If you dont allow them, they will tell you I WANT TO TRANSFER...
I have all the house rules
I have all the house rules for my maids when they first arrived.After when they are more exp, they will break the rules.For instance, starts to keep long nails,long hair, demand for off days, hp even in contract, everything is NO.If you dont allow them, they will tell you I WANT TO TRANSFER...
Hi inspiration. I had
Hi inspiration.
I had the same experience with my previous maid.
When I first employed her, it was mutually agreed that there will be no off days. But after her second year, in order to reward her, I offered her a off day.
And guess what, she came back later than the previous time each time she came back.
When I reminded her that she should come back as agreed, you know what was her reply:
" Mom, you agree to let me go on off, I am not the one asking for it!"
I was pissed by her reply. All that for my kindness.
So, please do not offer off days to your maid if she doesn't have it in the first place.
She is compensated for her off day and she agreed.
As kind as we don't stretch her and let her rest in between, I believe that my maid can still have enough rest.
My Maid
I have a maid whom has been with us for 5yrs+, I do not denied that she loves both my child whom is 5yrs & 2yrs old; and has taken care of my house very well thu ever since my 2nd child been born and with the montly off now she slags in her work.
Initailly when we employed her we have stated clearly "no off days"+allow to eat whatever we are having+have afternoon nap, when my second child was born she asked for an off day which I agreed as I understand she is stressed. Even though I have told her that this will not be a monthly thing but every month she will ask for my permission to allow her to have a off day, which I always agreed but now I am regretting the decision. Thought of rejecting her request when she asked again, but is worried should I have rejected what will happen.
Thanks for the post. Very
Thanks for the post. Very detailed and useful for those with new to employment of maid.
For transfer maids, ask to speak to the previous employer. Usually, this is rarely happended. The agent or transfer maid will always said quote one of below :
previous employer abuses the maid or beat the maid, ask maid to work >2 houses, cannot get along wth MIL, employer's husband molest her, give her 1 meal a day, children beat her, 4hrs of sleep allowed.
Now very fedup as got a black-faced maid facing me from aft to night. Shown her the way to bring my kid to tuition place and she cannot remember, still claim that it is 1st time she see the way despite that today is the 3rd time. Gave me black face after I remember her that today is the 3rd time :(
Don't understand abt maid. They always give us black face and what's happening to respect. We have never give black face to our boss, not for me. If angry with boss, I just complains to hubby or friend but will never give black face to boss.
Wow, you all are
I don't have maid yet. Wow, you all are experienced. Good. good.
Thanks for great tips.