Maid Allowances

familyof5 · Post by **familyof5** » Thu, 06 Mar 2008 3:37 pm

I am a bit reluctant to start this thread for obvious reasons! But I don't know enough people with maids in Singapore to ask....

I read in another thread about a maid who was paid food and transport allowances (in addition to her regular salary).

Is this a requirement? If not, is it common? We dont, and it has never been mentioned. Nor did I see any mention of it in any paperwork, or agency communication. But I wouldnt like to think that i was short changing her in any way.

keepitreal · Post by **keepitreal** » Thu, 06 Mar 2008 4:18 pm

Absolutely not normal. Pay her a salary and buy her those additional things when you shop with her unless you feel sorry for her and want to pay her this on top. Otherwise she won't spend it on what she is supposed to be spending it on.

kirstyL · Post by **kirstyL** » Thu, 06 Mar 2008 4:35 pm

You are not required to give her a food and transport allowance as such, but only provide her meals and I guess if you require her to travel as part of her job (like pick kids up at school on the bus) then you should give her enough money in her ezlink card to do it. Otherwise there is no need for food allowance and travel allowance.

one843 · Post by **one843** » Fri, 07 Mar 2008 8:04 am

Pay her what you want.

It is not like she gets payed a good salary anyways.

It should be like any business trip.

If you require her to travel you should pay for public transport. If she chooses to take taxi you pay for the cost of bus and she pay the difference. By no means woudl I think it is fair to restrict her to bus/MRT.

IF she wants to pay the extra for Taxi and you restrict her to public transport then that is just wanted to keep her on a tight collar.

If you require her to leave the house at 10 am and perform certain task that will require her to be gone from the house for lunch you should pay the cost for lunch at the coffee shop or hawker centers.

We have some friends that require their maid to work 7 days a week. I do not really agree with that but that is their choice and hers. However they give her alot of extras above and beyond what they are required.

It si calle dbeing a good boss.

Just because she is an simple 18 year old Indonesian does not mean she does not want to be treated a human.

Some other people I know have there maid work only 6 days a week. When they have a dinner party or something at home that they need her to work that 7th day then they offer her an alternate day off or give her overtime pay. The choice is hers.

IF you treat her well she will be loyal to you and treat you well back.

Basic human characteristics.

chixchix · Post by **chixchix** » Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:50 pm

I pay my maid her usual salary but if I feel that she needs more clothes ..then I just buy for her some...and also some other stuff ,that she may need, though she doesnt ask.

Karen Orde · Post by **Karen Orde** » Fri, 07 Mar 2008 9:47 pm

I always think we should be fair to all the maids, however beware of those who becomes greedy over a period of time. That is what happened to my current maid, Joy. I gave in to her requests and she kept asking for more as though I have shortchanged her. (She was eats whatever we have, like the same rice, vegetable and even meat so her food and transport allowances were for her off days)

Now she has threatened to terminate her contract if I do not give in to her requests.

familyof5 · Post by **familyof5** » Sat, 08 Mar 2008 1:12 pm

I guess thats what i was asking really....our maid is entitled to whatever is in our fridge/pantry. I really dont care what/how much she eats. And she's not required to shop or run errands. But I don't give her any money for her off days for transport etc. but its seems that is the norm, so thanks for the replies.

disneysea · Post by **disneysea** » Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:00 am

well more experienced maids here in sg negotiates for more with their employers. i notice this is common with filipino maids since probably they are more educated than indonesian or myanmar maids.

asking for more is a sign that they are greedy and i advise you shld know how and when to be firm.

cheers.

Jeppo · Post by **Jeppo** » Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:51 am

one843 wrote:Just because she is an simple 18 year old Indonesian does not mean she does not want to be treated a human.

How did they get around the regulations? The age for new FDWs was changed in 2005 from 18 to 23, so she shouldn't have been hired as a new FDW after then, and for her to be an existing FDW prior to that would mean she was working as an FDW at 15 years of age.

familyof5 · Post by **familyof5** » Mon, 10 Mar 2008 3:26 pm

oh dear...this is what i was afraid of. for the record she is over 30 and, not indonesian. and she hasnt actually asked me for anything.

Jeppo · Post by **Jeppo** » Mon, 10 Mar 2008 4:00 pm

familyof5 wrote:oh dear...this is what i was afraid of. for the record she is over 30 and, not indonesian. and she hasnt actually asked me for anything.

I think you misinterpreted. Nobody was saying that you were employing an 18 year old Indonesian. One843 said that one of her friends is and I was asking clarification from her. Had nothing to do with you or your post.

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