Helper wants only part of her monthly salary now

bentobox · Post by **bentobox** » Mon, 16 Jan 2012 1:29 pm

Hi there!

I don't know if this is a common problem... but my helper wants me to give her only part of her monthly salary ($250) now. She wants me to keep the rest of her salary ($150) until the end of the year. Apparently she has a habit of spending all her money at hand, and she wants to save enough money to buy her children a laptop! From what I have read and understood of MOM rules, it is illegal for me to keep any part of her payments... so do you guys have any suggestion?

Also, when and how much annual bonus do you give your helper? She just started working for me this month. I gave her $50 as bonus for an Indian festival last weekend. I am also planning to give her $50 each for 3 other Indian festivals and her birthday this year.

Thanks in advance!

nutnut · Post by **nutnut** » Mon, 16 Jan 2012 2:00 pm

It's up to you, although, if you are keeping her salary for her I'd ensure you put something in writing to ensure you aren't implicated, it will state $400 on your schedule for her earnings, if you put $250 paid, $150 to be paid on xx/xx/xx at <name> request - this way she isn't signing for the amount and you have written proof that you intend to pay and it's her request, she will also sign this.

In regards to bonus, we normally give her Christmas of double salary and buy her gifts same for her birthday.

Post by **x9200** » Mon, 16 Jan 2012 2:10 pm

bentobox wrote:Hi there!

I don't know if this is a common problem... but my helper wants me to give her only part of her monthly salary ($250) now. She wants me to keep the rest of her salary ($150) until the end of the year. Apparently she has a habit of spending all her money at hand, and she wants to save enough money to buy her children a laptop! From what I have read and understood of MOM rules, it is illegal for me to keep any part of her payments... so do you guys have any suggestion?

IMHO it is illegal to deduct from the maid's salary in that sense that you pay her less keeping the rest for yourself but I see no problem to pay her some money directly to her and keep the rest as HER savings. Here is the act:
http://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/service ... itions.pdf

To make it clear I would sign an agreement where you explain the situation so something over the line that she requests from you to keep a part (defined in the document) of her salary and you will be obliged to pay all this saving to her on her request after the due date (to be defined in this document).

carteki · Post by **carteki** » Mon, 16 Jan 2012 2:33 pm

Why not go with her and open a bank account in her name? That way you can deposit the "savings" portion directly into her account and give her the difference in cash. There is another topic on which account is best.

You may also want to suggest that she look at what is offered by www.aidha.org. Part of their program is a structured "savings club" where money management skills are taught and a target savings goal is set which is measured against bank statements every month.

Kim

Post by **x9200** » Mon, 16 Jan 2012 2:41 pm

carteki wrote:Why not go with her and open a bank account in her name? That way you can deposit the "savings" portion directly into her account and give her the difference in cash. There is another topic on which account is best.

She will be able to access it and apparently she wants to have some money out of her own reach.

carteki · Post by **carteki** » Mon, 16 Jan 2012 3:27 pm

x9200 wrote:
carteki wrote:Why not go with her and open a bank account in her name? That way you can deposit the "savings" portion directly into her account and give her the difference in cash. There is another topic on which account is best.
She will be able to access it and apparently she wants to have some money out of her own reach.

I find that if it isn't in my wallet I don't spend it. Not applying for an ATM card and using only a passbook will also help as it will require a queue at the bank to get the money out.

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Mon, 16 Jan 2012 3:31 pm

x9200 wrote:
carteki wrote:Why not go with her and open a bank account in her name? That way you can deposit the "savings" portion directly into her account and give her the difference in cash. There is another topic on which account is best.
She will be able to access it and apparently she wants to have some money out of her own reach.

After opening the account, if you feed the atm card to the dog ??

No card, no withdrawal.

If needed, then only way is to use a over-the-counter withdrawal ..

buyan · Post by **buyan** » Wed, 18 Jan 2012 9:00 pm

Hmmm, if it was me, I'd probably buy the laptop for her children so they can get the benefit now, or even go halves with her. Half a laptop costs nothing. But that's just me!

beppi · Post by **beppi** » Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:31 pm

Since she obviously wants you to help her save instead of spend, you should open a savings account with her (in her name), keep the bank book and card in a safe place (with her approval and until she asks for it) and transfer the savings part of her pay to that every month.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 19 Jan 2012 3:46 am

^^^^

Sounds like a sensible solution to me.

wannamove · Post by **wannamove** » Thu, 19 Jan 2012 5:47 am

I would buy the laptop mow and every month pay her the full salary. She returns back a portion of it and pays for the laptop interest free

Just my 2 cents

Post by **x9200** » Thu, 19 Jan 2012 7:00 am

beppi wrote:Since she obviously wants you to help her save instead of spend, you should open a savings account with her (in her name), keep the bank book and card in a safe place (with her approval and until she asks for it) and transfer the savings part of her pay to that every month.

I guess she can still go to the bank and withdraw the money.
It may work or not depending if the reason is her weakness only if she has the money with her or it is a bit more serious issue. But if she already resorted to asking her employer to keep her money safe from her I would rather expect the later.

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Thu, 19 Jan 2012 7:14 am

going by your initial post, I figure out that your maid is from India

Well, you can go the Indian banks and open an Indian bank account, i.e the account will be located in India, with the passbook etc, but .. the deposits can be done from the local branch of the same bank

Withdrawals are only allowed when the person is back in India ..

Wouldn't that be great ? money sent back, but not available to use until the maid gets back ???

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 19 Jan 2012 7:23 am

Yeah, in an emergency, that would be really great! NOT.

carteki · Post by **carteki** » Thu, 19 Jan 2012 8:38 am

and the laptop would then need to be purchased in India too (as that is where the cash is)

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Helper wants only part of her monthly salary now

Helper wants only part of her monthly salary now

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