KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

I renewed my helper’s contract and work permit in Oct 12. I was given a one year work permit that ties to her passport validity. My understanding was weekly off are for new maids hired in 2013. So I negotiated her new pay package thinking she will missed out the weekly off. I agreed to her request for $100 increment which bring her salary to $450 with one off day and extra on special occasions (birthday, Hari Raya, New Year). She get other freebies too – ang pow during CNY, birthday, Raya and I fork out the service fee when she transfer money home.

But now MOM tells me my maid is entitled to weekly off when I renew her passport and extends her work permit. It will be taken as new application.

If I knew I will be binded by this new ruling I would have factor in the weekly off during our negotiation. Or simply renew her passport earlier to get the 2 years work permit. She got 28% increment last year and again another increase this year for weekly off compensation. Even I don't get such hugh pay jump from my employer !

Queen or Maid wrote:I renewed my helper’s contract and work permit in Oct 12. I was given a one year work permit that ties to her passport validity. My understanding was weekly off are for new maids hired in 2013. So I negotiated her new pay package thinking she will missed out the weekly off. I agreed to her request for $100 increment which bring her salary to $450 with one off day and extra on special occasions (birthday, Hari Raya, New Year). She get other freebies too – ang pow during CNY, birthday, Raya and I fork out the service fee when she transfer money home.

But now MOM tells me my maid is entitled to weekly off when I renew her passport and extends her work permit. It will be taken as new application.

If I knew I will be binded by this new ruling I would have factor in the weekly off during our negotiation. Or simply renew her passport earlier to get the 2 years work permit. She got 28% increment last year and again another increase this year for weekly off compensation. Even I don't get such hugh pay jump from my employer !

I think you are entitled to make the case that the initial negotiation in Oct already took this into account. Are you being asked to add to her new base salary in lieu of days off?

You could simply give her the weekly day off (does not have to be Sunday), if you don't really need her around. (One day a week don't need to clean house, wash clothes etc, your family will still be ok mah)

If she chooses to rest at home instead (cos don't want to spend $$ on too many outings), that's not your problem (i.e. don't have to pay). Please note, it is HER choice, you can't make her stay home.

I'm in the same boat as you. If I do re-contract her, I'll tell her to take the weekly day off.

MOM is just being ridiculous.

Anyway the salary has nothing to do with them so you can just submit the new application with a lower salary and then compensate for the days off. I doubt your maid will even notice when she signs it as long as she receives the same amount of money.

nms1 wrote:MOM is just being ridiculous.

Anyway the salary has nothing to do with them so you can just submit the new application with a lower salary and then compensate for the days off. I doubt your maid will even notice when she signs it as long as she receives the same amount of money.

so does it mean that employers can compensate for the off days with the salary but not physically release the maid? or is it a case where definitely must physically relieve the maid of domestic chores, notwithstanding whether they stay at home or go out?

ImMeeMee wrote:

nms1 wrote:MOM is just being ridiculous.

Anyway the salary has nothing to do with them so you can just submit the new application with a lower salary and then compensate for the days off. I doubt your maid will even notice when she signs it as long as she receives the same amount of money.

so does it mean that employers can compensate for the off days with the salary but not physically release the maid? or is it a case where definitely must physically relieve the maid of domestic chores, notwithstanding whether they stay at home or go out?

If you compensate the maid for her days off then she works as normal. If she is not compensated and takes the day off then it is up to her whether she stays at home or goes out but if she is at home you should not be asking her to do any work.

I think MOM don't care when you sign your contract with the maid. As long as you renew work permit in 2013. The new rule click in.

Queen or Maid wrote:I renewed my helper’s contract and work permit in Oct 12. I was given a one year work permit that ties to her passport validity. My understanding was weekly off are for new maids hired in 2013. So I negotiated her new pay package thinking she will missed out the weekly off. I agreed to her request for $100 increment which bring her salary to $450 with one off day and extra on special occasions (birthday, Hari Raya, New Year). She get other freebies too – ang pow during CNY, birthday, Raya and I fork out the service fee when she transfer money home.

But now MOM tells me my maid is entitled to weekly off when I renew her passport and extends her work permit. It will be taken as new application.

If I knew I will be binded by this new ruling I would have factor in the weekly off during our negotiation. Or simply renew her passport earlier to get the 2 years work permit. She got 28% increment last year and again another increase this year for weekly off compensation. Even I don't get such hugh pay jump from my employer !

To make you feel better .... you didn't pay your maid any extra$.
Your maid is considered experienced so if you visit any agency, the minimum starting pay for fresh Indo is $450, includes no-off day compensation.

With experience, via agent, Indo pay starts from $500 with off day.

I faced the same situation. Offered my FDW 42% salary increment based on her starting pay with me, with one off each month but it still didn't beat the new salary ruling imposed by Philippines embassy. By giving her this 42% .... it was a 'miserable increment', can't beat those sitting in agencies waiting to be transferred! But comparing her friends, loyally working a few years in Sg, same employer .... my offer was a bit higher. Conclusion, I am simply not good enough for her I couldn't offer her an expat pay package

My experienced Indo maid get $520 now with 1 off day per month.
She doesn't want offday on weekly basis coz she doesn't want to spend money on her 'extra' offday, so agent negotiate and get her $520 salary now.

This stupid policy actually make us pay more only! I don't think I can afford a maid if their salary keep on increasing at this rate (30%~40% annually), eventually more and more Working mother will choose to give up their job and become SAHM, I definitely will be one of them!

SG govt, you want to boost SG low birth rate? Solve our Maid problem FIRST!!

Now Government has HEAVILY subsidise the childcare according to household income. So I feel alot will put their kids in childcare centre instead of having maid.

Just hope that the childcare centre don't increase their price, if not, BACK TO SQUARE 1.