KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Well so much talk about Burmese, looks like theres an increase in burmese maids now. I see quite alot nowadays, agents are recommending them instead of Indons.
One thing to take note if ur gonna employ a burmese, their passport last for 3 years. So if ur taking a transfered maid do check out
the expiry date on the p.p. The agent may not bring ur attention to it and even if they do, u will probably b advised to hold back their dollars as the maid will have to pay for the renewal and thats really not gonna b cheap.

But I thought that employers have to bear the cost of passport renewal?

Anyone knows the official view?

Indonesian maids' passports also valid for 3 years -so , no difference. If need to renew, employer has to renew at the Indonesian embassy at Grange Road but renewal is 5 years validity 'coz it will be an indonesian international passport (instead of the 3 years maid-specific passport).

How much does it cost to renew Myanmese' passport?

Well, so far Ive never paid for any renewal but my last agent will advise the maid to let me hold a certain amount of $ for renewal if the passport is going to expire during her term with me.

Regarding the myanmars renewal, my relatives maid just paid 750 before she started working with her. She told my relative to declare her salary lower to $300 as she has to pay 10 percent tax frm her salary for every month that she worked if she renew her pp again. I will check out the details when I see her again. They dont seem to have a 5 year pp even after renewal...as for the Indons they dont have to pay any taxes when they renew, perhaps only a fix rate.

titank wrote:How is Burmese Maid? Understand that they are really very raw type which must take a lot of patience to teach them!

Ya, they can be extremely stubborn. can be very dirty and untidy too. i guess insufficient training b4 coming to sg cos their agents there focus more on learning english in order to work here.

Burmese maids also tend to have bigger ego (or is it pride?), cannot scold or correct them too much. Must talk nicely to them and have lots of patience and tolerance with them.

Angelight wrote:Burmese maids also tend to have bigger ego (or is it pride?), cannot scold or correct them too much. Must talk nicely to them and have lots of patience and tolerance with them.

Very true! I notice that not only with mine but with 3 other relative with burmese maids. Im still in the midst of changing mine and will have to put up with another burmese.

Hi moonee,

is she your 1st burmese maid? I remember we got our burmese maids around the same time.

moonee wrote:

Angelight wrote:Burmese maids also tend to have bigger ego (or is it pride?), cannot scold or correct them too much. Must talk nicely to them and have lots of patience and tolerance with them.

Very true! I notice that not only with mine but with 3 other relative with burmese maids. Im still in the midst of changing mine and will have to put up with another burmese.

Actually, I have hired Philipino, Burmese and Indonesian maid.

And this is how I feel about them.

Out of the 3, I find Indonesian maid most suited to stay at home doing housework and taking care of kids.

Philipino is smart but character wise, they are more outgoing type compared to Indonesian. They are also more "western" because their country was ruled by the spanish in the past. Spanish words, food and thinking has deseminated into the philipino culture.

Burmese maid are quite strong headed and unless you take those really from Kampong sort, they are not that easily to train because most of the youngsters in Myanmar works outside. The jobs they do are usually sales promoter or nursing jobs. Since they don't stay at home much, they can't cook nor can they do housekeeping because most of it would be done by their mother! And because they are used to going out to work everyday, they would also prefer to have off day when they are in Singapore. IF you want to get the kampong girls, you will worry they can't pass the English test here, so most recruiters prefer to get the city girls.

Most of the Indonesian woman especially those married will turn housewife. Because of their culture, the woman also tend to be more able to cook and do take care of children. They like to help one another in cooking when there's a wedding taking place.

So, in general I find personally Indonesian more likely to accept staying at home and doing housekeeping as their lifestyle. If you do not allow off days, they are more likely to accept as well because its quite similar to their lifestyle back home.

Just my thinking based on the experience I have.