Paola Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 As some of you know, I moved to Singapore mid October last year. Its very much the norm that condos have a maid room (just enough room to put a single bed in!) with a separate bathroom. Ours are currently packed to the ceilings with skis etc Condos have very little storage Anyway we have decided to get ourselves a helper as employing a cleaner to come in 3 times a week was adding up. Besides she started to dust round things and the final straw was when she put my husbands suit through the washing machine I popped to our local agency this afternoon to get things moving. I discovered to my shock that for the first 7 months they are not expected to get a day off and after that most only get one day off a month and they would be earning approx £185 a month!!! A few helpers said that the reason for leaving an employer was because they were not getting enough food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Good gosh That is shocking Putting things in perspective, my cleaner comes in for 2 hours a week to help with some essentials and costs my 75 a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 It is alarming, isn't it? I spent some time in the far east a long while ago and was appalled at first, but many of the maids are Filippinas and that standard of living is far better then athey are used to at home I taught my friends' maid English in return for her teaching me to cook Thai food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 It is alarming, isn't it? I spent some time in the far east a long while ago and was appalled at first, but many of the maids are Filippinas and that standard of living is far better then athey are used to at home I taught my friends' maid English in return for her teaching me to cook Thai food. Yes, the maids I am looking at are Filipino because there English is much better then the Indonesians (I know I am generalizing!!) and you are right about the standard of living. What I find sad is that most of them have children Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 They do - they're relied upon to send money home to support their families. I found it really hard to be waited upon, and never got used to it; as soon as you stepped out of clothing, she'd be washing it. When you chose your clothes for the day/evening, they'd be pressed while you were in the shower! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I am sure whoever you employ will be very happy with you as you wil treat them well and ensure they get time off and fed well. Sad to think other people wont do the same. When I spent some time in South Africa on work trips I found it really odd having the help in the house I was staying in. I wasnt used to it to begin with and if left early in the morning and left my room with night clothes on the floor (like you do!) I would come back and they would be washed and pressed and back in my bed - and I never expected them to be. Same with other clothes too. Also when we had early starts we would have to tell her when we wanted breakfast and when we got up (even at 5am) breakfast would be laid out for us beautifully. I found this very hard to deal with and a local guy explained that if I didnt let her do things she would be worried that she would be out of a job. I ensured I thanked her lots and left her a little present when I went home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
