Maid - xmas leave - whats the cost ??

[kiwigal]

I want to give my maid 2 weeks off at xmas so she can go home (we will be away anyway) to the Phillipines. Can anyone tell me what needs to be done apart from booking a flight ? I engaged her services via an agency, and they are quoting around $300 just to sort out various paper work (that excludes the cost of any flight).

IS this cost correct ? Is it what everyone else has paid ? Can it be done cheaper ? and what needs to be done ?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

[ozgirl]

Hi Kiwigal

You can probably get it for about $250.00, that is the cheapest that I have found as I am sending my maid home at Xmas time as well.

Basically, the agency should be able to do it for you, it is a rip off, just another way for them to get more money out of you. The contract you have needs to be validated by the Phil Embassy so this costs.

If your maid has been working for you for more than 2 years then you can simply download the paper work from the Phil Embassy website and it won't cost you, but if she has been in your employ under 2 years then there is no other way around it.

Most of the maid agencies in Lucky Plaza charge around $250.00, shop around.

Good luck.

[kiwigal]

Hi Ozgirl,
Thanks for that. Just to clarify... does that mean i don't have to go back to the agency that I got her from - I can go to any maid agency to sort this out ???

[ozgirl]

Hi Kiwigal

I am fairly certain you can. Any agency would welcome your business so it doesn't matter who you go through, they all have the same process. They give the paperwork to a 'runner' and they go to the Embassy. Everybody gets a percentage.

Just ring or pop into Lucky Plaza or send your maid down to get a couple of quotes & the paperwork. You can then fill it in and send your maid to the embassy to process.

Don't get put off about the contract stating you must pay your maid US$400 or S$600 per month. Phil Embassy cannot enforce it only the Sing Govt can and they haven't.

Once all the paperwork has been approved you then can send her home anytime until her contract expires and it will only cost a very small amount for the exit pass, I think under $10.

Hopefully everything will go smoothly for you.