High Expectations

Recently a maid commented stating that a free-lance is paid 1800 and only work Monday – Friday. Firstly this is a typical example of maids exploiting expats who do not understand the maid system. There are many qualified Malaysians and Uni graduates who work Monday – Saturday, pay their own rent, buy their own food and do not have return flights for a holiday at the end of each year of employment. 1800 is a very high salary plus most expats go overseas for 4-6 weeks to visit family members, during this time the maid usually works part-time for other people. Plus there is no commitment to the family, maids who have their own permit will just not turn up after their salary pay day if they decide they do not want to work for the family.

Hopefully there will be a system put in place that prevents maids and employers from exploiting each other as for the majority who just want to do their best by each other, they seem to suffer.

Website – Option

Hi Everyone

I  mentioned this earlier in a comment but would like to know your feedback. I have been considering converting this blogsite into a website. The maids need to register and they can send in their resumes. This list would then be available to employers who also register to the site. This site will deregister maids and employers who cheat each other (of course both sides of the stories will be heard). The site cannot guarantee maids similar to the blogsite but hopefully through feedback, registrations fees etc there can be some quality control achieved. Legitimate maid agencies can also be listed. A registration fee of 300RM to maids that can either be paid via Western Union to an account. 

The reason for a registration fee is to provide a trustworthy website where the proper time can be spent on it to ensure quality agents, maids and employers. The black list will mainly be not allowing maids to register on the list rather than listing names as this can create numerous problems as seen through the blog site.

Word of Advice

Hi Everyone

It has been awhile since I have posted due to many different commitments. I would however like to ask people to abide by a few common courtesies, firstly please do not repeat your post numerous times throughout the blog. Once is enough. Secondly, please do not engage in an argument on this blog site. Have your say but please respect the fact that not everyone thinks the same. Thirdly, if you make an appointment to meet someone and you cannot make it for whatever reason please contact this person. This is a common courtesy for not only your work life but also your social life. If I am employed by someone then I would inform my boss if I could not come in. If I did not do this I would get into a lot of trouble. 

Please only post on this blog site if you are serious about being employed. The problem I find that people do not view being a maid as a career, those that do end up working in high positions on big salaries with great working conditions. But this did not happen overnight for these people. They worked hard and have very good work ethics. Everyone has to start somewhere and usually at the bottom even expats. Just try not to stay at the bottom. 

Maid Seeking Job (Emma)

Emma is seeking full-time, live-in. She has experience in house-cleaning and minding babies. If you are interested interested please call 0149338234. I have not employed her so I cannot recommend but please contact me if you have any problems contacting her or arranging interviews.

Expats and the Illegal market

We are all bound by chains (our children’s future)

I know many expats who have maids with their own permits, live-out or hire part-time. The reason is that most expats do not want a stranger living in their house, do not like the thought of being legally responsible for someone that is not a family member and do not think the maid employment industry is fair and believe it to be against human rights. This creates a community that in the eyes of the Malaysian law is illegal. Maids and other foreign workers start entering the country by exploiting loopholes in the Immigration legislation. This has lead to maids having no protection against loss of income, maids taking advantage of employers who want to do the “right thing” and make the maid feel like their part of their family, medicals not being correctly administered (TB is now at high levels in Malaysia) and generally an overall bad reputation for everyone involved in the maid/foreign worker industry. Those that lose from this are maids who genuinely want to work so they can earn enough money for their children’s education (not find a boyfriend like many I know) and expats who can enjoy living abroad with their children even though they do not family to help out with child rearing duties. It’s a vicious circle that can only be stopped if harsh penalties are given to those that break the law. But would this actually stop anything or just create more problems. It’s a hard one with no easy answer. Just remember we are all human, we all have rights and we are all trying to make sure our families have a better future.

Commissions of Illegal Actions – Right or Wrong

Just a warning. I have heard that some maid “agents” are asking employers to pay a commission for sourcing maids then when the maid does not work out they still demand to be paid. I do not think this is right. Firstly the maid should pay the commission not the employer as the maid is using the agent to source work. Secondly there should be no commission paid if either party is not happy. These actions are considered illegal by Malaysian law so how can the agent demand money from an employer.

It will cost 300 RM!!

At one stage I used a Free Lance agent to source a maid. My requirements were full-time Live in with Sunday off day. The maid could leave on a Saturday night at the end of the day when all chores where finished including cleaning up after the night meal. This was discussed with the maid in person with the agent present to make sure everybody was understood. Problem, as soon as it was Saturday lunchtime the maids were asking to leave. As soon as I said no the maids would state that they would not work for me. This made me angry as I would tell them that they must work the full day Saturday otherwise do not take the job. Twice this happened. Next time I called the agent she said that it was my fault and I was difficult. Next she said she would only find me a maid if I paid her 300 rm. My response was, find me a maid and if we are both happy after a month I would pay the commission. I know my rules are tough but for a maid to demand a salary as high as a University Graduate from Malaysia I expect her to work. Many employees I know that are local will earn the same wage as a Filipino but they still have to pay for their own rent, transport, toiletries and utility bills. Plus if their employers go on holidays they still have to work hard. As I said to the free lance maids, we are on holidays for 2 months of the year. That is 2 months slack time where I know they will work part-time for other people. For those 2 months the maid still earns a salary. We were in apartment where the work is easy. We are now in a house with a maid sourced through a trusted agent and she is the best we’ve had.

Maid Wanted – Full time, Live in

American family, two adults and one four-year old child, seeking a full-time live in maid with Sunday off day. Maid must have nanny experience, valid working permit and references. The location is Ampang. Please respond with contact details.

 

Maid Seeking Job – Sonia

Sonia is seeking a job. She has 20 years experience. Please contact her on  016-3718596 or email  soniaserrano10@hotmail.com

I have not used so I cannot recommend. Any problems please contact admin.

 

 

Maid Wanted

Family would like to hire a maid that can cook and babysit children, 6 and 2 year old. If interested please respond to post.  Family consists of three adults and two children. Maid is needed to start December 2012.

 

  Marlies H Maneru Schnauzers de Casa Maneru 

Maid Seeking Work

Lisa is a Filipino maid seeking full-time, part-time work Monday to Friday. She has her own visa. She can perform domestic duties and babysit children.  Please contact her on 0163179086. I have not used her so I cannot recommend. If you have any problems please inform me.