What do you pay your maid per month?

Zeenit · Post by **Zeenit** » Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:33 pm

Maybe I am missing a point ( she says still sitting in the UK) but why would anyone want a maid to be in their home on a weekend. I would want space with my husband and my family.

kaseyma · Post by **kaseyma** » Thu, 10 Apr 2008 6:15 am

road.not.taken wrote:Part-timers always bring home more cash, the going rate is about $15/hour. Since room & board is not covered, it doesn't go very far.

Also have a part-time maid, but pay only $10/hr.
Took a few trials (5 maids) until we found one we liked.

Forks · Post by **Forks** » Thu, 10 Apr 2008 8:35 am

I used to feel bad about the amount I paid my maid but when she told me how much she was making in terms of Indonesian money (better than an average salary there) I didnt

Jeppo · Post by **Jeppo** » Thu, 10 Apr 2008 9:17 am

QRM wrote:Whats the going rate for drivers?

From what I know, the going rate is around $1,200/month. But then there is also cpf (unless you pay under the table). And most also give other allowances including meal, transport and overtime.

Jeppo · Post by **Jeppo** » Thu, 10 Apr 2008 9:27 am

Forks wrote:I used to feel bad about the amount I paid my maid but when she told me how much she was making in terms of Indonesian money (better than an average salary there) I didnt

It's all relative. Most maids in Indonesia will get between Rp500,000-Rp1,000,000/month (SG$70-150 approx.). Food is cheap, a plate of nasi goreng costs around Rp5,000 (less than $1), and eatting at home cost us (2 adults) about Rp100,000/week and we were eatting very well (we both put on about 10kgs each over a 5 year period). Accomadation is cheap. When I lived in Batam, we had a 4 bedroom house that cost us Rp15,000,000/year ($2,200).

familyof5 · Post by **familyof5** » Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:41 pm

Zeenit wrote:Maybe I am missing a point ( she says still sitting in the UK) but why would anyone want a maid to be in their home on a weekend. I would want space with my husband and my family.

some dont have them work on the weekends. or maybe just mornings only, to help with getting kids breakfasted or whatever. it's really up to you. if i had no kids i certainly wouldnt have mine on weekends. actually, if i had no kids, i probably wouldnt have one! not live in anyway.

Andarol · Post by **Andarol** » Fri, 11 Apr 2008 5:40 pm

Normally indonesian/philippine maid get about $300 - $600 per month. But I think nowadays they got maid from myanmar and cambodia, much cheaper.

dlim · Post by **dlim** » Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:51 pm

Depending your current family situation, you can select the appropriate maid which best meet your family needs.

For expats, maid's English proficiency is important for communication purpose. Hence, Filipino maids would be ideal.

2-3 years ago, Singapore/HK and other developed Asian economies were sluggish. Low wage was the norm. With prevailing growth in regional economies, high oil prices and high inflation in Singapore/Philippines over last 12mths, it is not surprising that wages have gone up.

In addition, the maid has gained 2 yrs' work experience. Her next work assignment would probably pay her S$100-200 more now.

jim&lesley · Post by **jim&lesley** » Sun, 13 Apr 2008 5:11 pm

I noticed that someone mentioned hiring a part time maid. We are relocating from Hong Kong to Singapore and will be looking for a maid to come in probably twice a week for half a day.

Is it easy enough to find someone on this basis?

I know that in HK it is actually illegal for someone an a domestic helper's visa to work on this basis. Does anyone know if that's the same in Singapore?

Any advice on where we should look to find someone for part time housework?

Thanks

frenzal · Post by **frenzal** » Sun, 13 Apr 2008 6:18 pm

Thaiclan wrote:Its a tough one - we bring a woman into our home and feel guilty about her level of poverty and pay her in our mind a decent wage. Yet back in the Philippines a person who has a degree and is a professional with years of experience does not bring home half of what our maid gets and he has an entire family with all the costs associated.
I'm sure if we meditated a bit longer on the subject we would see that we are perpetuating the education problem with girls choosing to be maids (same formula for girls choosing prostitution - or others choosing it for them) rather than becoming professionals and helping their country with a higher skilled workforce. I cannot blame the maids becoming maids (I know what I would do), yet there is most definitely a greater story and bigger picture here. On a macro economic scale it does no good to pay far greater wages than the "going rate" of the country.
Rather we choose to give the benefits of a European worker - 7/8 hour days, 2 days off per week, paid holiday, sick pay PLUS further education/training.

Wages aren't absolute though. The same income in the Philippines would get you a lot further, but in Singapore general expenses are much higher.

micknlea · Post by **micknlea** » Sun, 13 Apr 2008 9:31 pm

jim&lesley wrote:I noticed that someone mentioned hiring a part time maid. We are relocating from Hong Kong to Singapore and will be looking for a maid to come in probably twice a week for half a day.

Is it easy enough to find someone on this basis?

I know that in HK it is actually illegal for someone an a domestic helper's visa to work on this basis. Does anyone know if that's the same in Singapore?

Any advice on where we should look to find someone for part time housework?

Thanks

It is even stricter here in Singapore and only locals can work as part timers. There are many agencies etc that you can contact to get part time cleaners etc but employing someone elses domestic helper runs a big risk for all involved.

Guowei58 · Post by **Guowei58** » Mon, 14 Apr 2008 5:07 pm

I think locals in SG pay $300 per month for their live-in maids...I guess there's a big discrepancy between expats and local prices - don't know why that is the case, other than the fact that expats could pay more.

durain · Post by **durain** » Mon, 14 Apr 2008 5:54 pm

Guowei58 wrote:I think locals in SG pay $300 per month for their live-in maids...I guess there's a big discrepancy between expats and local prices - don't know why that is the case, other than the fact that expats could pay more.

maybe coz expats earn more? get rent free condo? etc, etc.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Mon, 14 Apr 2008 9:30 pm

The majority of expats do not pay any more than they have to. Most are only paying 300~500 for their maids. What you get on here are the crusaders and not the typical expats. Expats also include all of those from non-western countries who also have maids as well. Indians usually opt for Sri Lankan maids which only get paid around 150/mo of course all "Expats" need to pay the domestic worker levies as well. Then there was the Yank woman last month who was hauled up by MOM for exploiting her maid as well.

How many expats are going to come on a forum and say "I'm a cheapskate. I will not pay anything more than the minimum I can get away with!"?

Forks · Post by **Forks** » Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:07 pm

Im not a bleeding heart but I do believe in a fair days work for a fair days pay.

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