KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Wondering if employing a single maid or one who is married with kids is better?

Have employed both before but wondering which better? Thought married with kids is better cos got more motivation to work and earn money for the kids, though not necessarily true also...cos my last one also married with kid but still go and find Bangla BF.

Seen quite a few request for transfer maids who are single so wondering if single or married is better?

Getting a maid is like striking 4D , lol, doesn't seem as though the married ones are really bothered to work for their kids, Maids being maids ,their brain and mentality is not same as us .

Single ones can get playful also, i just don't understand why MOM don't impose a no transfer rule ..at least the girls will work and don't do nonsense.

Transfer maids normally have issues not all agents are so honest to tell you the real reason for maid transfer

It is really subjective and I am starting to feel that it's a luck things sometimes.

So far, we've had 5 maids in the last 13 years.

The first two were young/ inexperienced when they joined and single. They were with us for 5 years each. Towards the end, they were longing to go home and get married.

The 3rd was married with a child but has attitude problem and couldn't get along with pils. We had no choice but to send her back.

The 4th was a transfer maid with a child. While I have never believed in transfer maid, she was surprisingly my best maid so far. However, she asked to go home after 1 year to take care of her child. While I looked through her past employment records, was surprised to learn that just before us, she has changed a number of employers so her total duration in Singapore was slightly more than 2 years. So I suppose sometimes it's a fit. While she is not ideal for some, she was good for our family.

The latest and current is a single. So far so good as she is able to connect with my girls and her past experience was taking care of elderly so she has been able to connect with my pils (who are probably in a better state than the elderly she used to take care of). The good thing is no off day for her ( less "negative" influence"). So hoping she can last for at least 4 years before she goes back to get married.

So yes, single or not, transfer or not, sometimes really depends on our needs and luck.

getting a reliable maid is about luck.

a single one doesn't have liabilities like children and/or hubby to worry...but this could mean she can squander her money anyway she wishes...but that is not within our concern as an employer because it is her own money. but when she reaches a certain age, she will be desperate to go home and get married. one of my maids freaked out when her brother wrote a letter saying the boyfriend had been going out with other girls. after reading the letter, she wanted to go home immediately.

a married maid would have to support her children and maybe her husband. if her husband keeps asking for money, then she may not be able to focus on her work here.

I feel no matter Married or Single is no different. It really depend on individual. I know of a married maid with boyfriend in Singapore and get pregnat. @@

I feel the no transfer rule is good. My company employed quite a no. of china worker under work permit. They are not allowed to transfer. If they want to transfer, they has to go back to China and re-enter Singapore again. They pay their own agency fees to Singapore too.

I would said they are VERY hardworking worker although some are slower learner but at least they have the attitude to learn and change to better.

Why corporate can have no transfer rule for China worker but not maid? No agency fees required for Company employing China worker but not maid? *Roll eyes*

maids should not be allowed to ask for transfer...or else they will be choosing employers and the type of work.

Lynette Soh wrote:Yes, I agreed and strongly support for "No Transfer" for maid like Hongkong. But I think it should be for "bad attidue maids" only and not for those maids look after old peoples who died wihin months. Because it is not fair for the maids who finished cutting "Loan", looked after old peoples till they died and and got send back home without any money.

I also hope that MOM can reverse the "Weekly Off day " law to give maids only "Maximum two off days" per month so that we can negotiate to reduce to ONLY ONE off day. With ONE DAY ONLY, hopefully can minimise our problems from off days, boy friends, many friends, uncontrolled handphone calls and sms to many friends...
'

I personally feel it is ok to give them off. As we are able to "pay" for their work day.

My maid is off twice a month. And I compensate her $20 each Sunday she worked for me. Win-Win situation for me.

I just dislike maid who Suka Suka want to change employer. If we don't allow. They will give BLACK face. No mood to work. Anyhow work. During the period when we are finding maid to replace her, she give us all type of nonsense. As an employer, we worry all the nonsense given by maid during those period when we are sourcing for maid, so no choice but to give in and let them transfer.

Personally, I'm not against giving the weekly day off. They are humans too, and need to socialise.
Anyway, those employers who think they can prevent their maids from "bad influences" by refusing them the day off, are just fooling themselves.

POA Teacher wrote:Personally, I'm not against giving the weekly day off. They are humans too, and need to socialise.
Anyway, those employers who think they can prevent their maids from "bad influences" by refusing them the day off, are just fooling themselves.

giving maids a day off is good...they need a break and we need a break from them too. in fact, giving them a day off means they have to pay for transport wherever they go, buy their own meals (lunch and dinner). when they go out, they will be brainwashed by their friends too. as long as we depend on maids, we are at their mercy.

Oh ya my sister's maid who worked in Hongkong before told us. At hongkong, beside no transfer, maid has to give "notice period" to employer. They need to fill in a form to tender resignation and employer has to sign on the form to acknowledge that the notice period has click in. Something like that. Think their notice period is 1 or 2 months. If not has to give Salary in lieu of notice. I feel this is fairer. She said because of the "no transfer" policy, she tahan 1 yr+ than she resign even her employer is VERY fierce/picky.

Beside, her pay in hongkong, is almost the same as what my sister is paying her now. She said she prefer working in Singapore.