Marriage & Maids

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

OK~ we have an unusual situation and before I rattle the cages at MOE, I wanted to ask the forum for some wisdom.

We love our maid. We absolutely love our maid, but sadly we are really and truly moving out of Singapore (again).

Our needs have changed and we just don't need a full-time helper. So... time to cut her loose.

Trouble is ~ she is 'engaged' to a nice guy, a fellow Filipino who is in Singapore on a work permit. He works in construction, and makes a decent living. I put engaged in quotes because, I'm not sure how feasible their marriage could be if they stayed in Singapore which is their goal (she's lived in Singapore for 20 years and they can obviously make a better living in Singapore).

I know MOE is cracking down, that much is very clear from the website. If we cancel her work permit, can she marry her fiance and be added as his dependent? How likely is this?

Does anyone have any experience with this? We want to help her out as much as possible and we'll be headed back to SIngapore to close things up in a few weeks. If there is any way to get some information, before we get there and get this big ball of red tape rolling...

Thanks in advance ~

[x9200]

Only holders of the Employment Passes (P1, P2, S) with their salaries above 4k can have the dependents.
Probably the best option for them is to maintain their status quo so both working independently. They can get married but they will not be able to live together. Work Permit holders have no rights to have any dependents. The whole system behind the work permit institution is to treat them as a dependent of their employers so their independent options are very limited.

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Thanks for the response ~ trouble is the status quo is changing. We're leaving. If she goes to work for another family she can keep things going the way they are, but it seems silly to be engaged when they are stuck in this limbo.

[offshoreoildude]

I've only seen success in this situation where the maid has skills or education good enough to get a none domestic workers job in Singapore.

[sundaymorningstaple]

MHB, That sucks. Both her situation and the fact that you all are going back! You are part of the landscape!

But, yeah, the problem is MOM is pretty adamant that there is NO dependent status for WP holders here. There is no problem with them marrying if that were to happen, but it would have no impact on their problem and could just make it harder for them family tension wise. As neither party are marrying a Singaporean, permission from MOM isn't required, but that doesn't help as a WP cannot have dependents here (and neither can S pass holders unless they make at least 2.8K/mo).

I'm afraid I don't have any anecdotal evidence of anything to the contrary either. In fact, I've still got a 4.5 year old grand niece living with me because of something similar.

[x9200]

From 1st September it is 4k:
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

[sundaymorningstaple]

Ouch!

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Thanks SMS. I've been gone almost a year now, husband is still in and out ~ but we really need to wrap up the incredibly expensive toe-hold we still have there. He still can comeback and conduct business from a hotel or Serviced Apartment.

Our lovely maid just wants to work for us, she has told other people she won't get married while we still need her. So now we are at this awful crossroads, having to let her go so she can get on with her own life. I'm just trying to do some ground work so I can get as much information as possible and make the most of my few weeks in Singapore.

[sundaymorningstaple]

This may well be a boon for her then, in a matter of speaking. Finding an arrangement for them to stay here in all likelihood will just delay their "marriage" just that much longer. And what might have been an ideal relationship will never get off the ground here. Whereas, if he's had a good job here and I know she's been very well treated, they should be able to set themselves up good at home.

Obviously, it would be better here, but frankly that's shooting for the moon even for Filipinos who have degrees here at the moment.

Good luck though, let us know here if there is anything else we can do (or try to do, as the case may be).

sms

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

OK will do. Just seems a shame these nice people who have worked in Singapore for years can't get married. Ironic that their best chance to stay together is to live apart.

[x9200]

Pity they do not allow for some reason for Filipinos to work on WP in the service and manufacturing areas. She would have another option then. What is left is only construction and marine industries.

[CGS]

Hello Mary
My family is actually looking for a maid, and if you are so happy with her, I would be delighted to interview her and keep her.
Has she ever taken care of young kids?
Kind Regards
Carlos

[ecureilx]

Pity they do not allow for some reason for Filipinos to work on WP in the service and manufacturing areas. She would have another option then. What is left is only construction and marine industries.

matter of fact, if she finds an employer and switches to a WP under a restaurant, for example, she will come under the 15 year rule (SMS may remember -the rule that bars WP holders from exceeding 15 years ...)

there was a very recent case of an employer who sent their maid to study and let her get a job as a production controller or something, and as she joined, she was touching the 15 year limit, and after 2 year of WP, her pass was not renewed.

The above rule doesn't apply for maids, from what I know ..

[sundaymorningstaple]

I actually though that had been reduced to 10 years recently, but a search turned up nothing that I could quote! I do know that it was recently changed at some point this year. Don't remember if it was increased or decreased.

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

Hello Mary
My family is actually looking for a maid, and if you are so happy with her, I would be delighted to interview her and keep her.
Has she ever taken care of young kids?
Kind Regards
Carlos

Hi Carlos

Yes ~ certainly she has taken care of young kids though it has been a while. She raised my friend's family (2 of their three were born in Singapore). If you PM me your contact information I can let you know when she is really and truly looking. It might not be for a few months.

Thanks.