Practical lessons on taking care of baby

  Don't be taken in by ridiculously low agency fees charged by some of the maid agencies. The maid
        agencies concerned will most likely deflect the additional cost resulting from the low agency fees
        to the foreign domestic helper whose work performance will inevitably be adversely affected as
        she will have a very high loan to service.   It is not surprising that the loan repayment period may
        stretch up to one year.  As the saying goes  .... "What you pay is what you get". Clients must also
        realise that if they pay a very low agency fee, they cannot expect to receive or demand the backup
        service from the maid agencies during the first two years of contract. One dollar can "buy" you
        a foreign domestic helper but not a bowl of your favourite noodle at a hawker stall in Singapore.
        So what about the backup service? Furthermore, the domestic helper will not be happy if she later
        discovers that her friends next door do have not loans higher than hers.

  If you are promised a free replacement, ensure that your maid agency will show you  ALL their
        biodata  when you need a free replacement. It is not uncommon for the maid agencies to reserve
        the good biodata for their full fee paying clients and will only show the not so good ones to their
        clients requesting replacements.

   Free 6th monthly medical check-up. Usually the foreign domestic helper is asked to pay the
        medical costs with or without  her prior consent or knowledge and employer has to  send their
        foreign  domestic helper to the maid agency's office in the morning for medical check-up and
        collect her  back in the evening. Frankly, it is the moral obligation of the employer to pay for
        his/her foreign domestic helper's medical check-up unless the maid agency genuinely absorbs
        the medical cost of the domestic helper   for  the next two years !!!! Paying for one domestic
        helper is affordable for the  maid agency but paying for all the domestic helpers deployed by
        the maid agency for the next two years  is financially straining for the said maid agency.

  Ensure that the package fee does not include any hidden costs and is not ridiculously low
        enough to camouflage gimmicks.  For your own protection, please ensure that the insurance
        cover comes with a comprehensive package and not a superior or budget package. Also please
        ensure that the replacement fee is reasonable. 

  Sometimes the foreign domestic helper is not able to take up employment in Singapore due to
        various reasons. She could fail her medical test in her country of origin or in Singapore. She could
        not obtain her passport for processing. Her family may subsequently object to her working abroad.
        For whatever  reason(s) given by the maid agency, it is certainly not the client's fault but will the
        client be allowed to seek a  full refund of the deposit  without deduction of administrative charges?

  In this competitive trade, it is not unusual for maid agencies to exaggerate their years
        of experience in this trade. However, the real acid test to their claims should be to verify their
        licence number or check with the Ministry of Manpower. Remember: the smaller the licence
        number, the older  the agency although it must be emphasized that an older agency does not
        necessarily equate an established agency.       

   It is not unusual for maid agencies to claim that they have training centres or agencies in Indonesia
        and the Philippines.  This is not possible because of the very strict labour laws in these countries
        prohibiting foreigners from having a major stake in companies engaged in labour supply.

  It is not uncommon for maid agencies to obtain biodata from middlemen as they could not obtain it
        directly from the overseas labour suppliers due to their low volume or lack of contact. By having
        someone between the maid agency and the foreign labour supplier, the maid agency may not have
        any direct access to the foreign labour supplier. Without this channel of communication, the maid
        agency may have difficulties in counselling the foreign domestic helper as the latter usually listens
        to her own agent. The biodata is usually distributed by the middleman to many maid agencies on a
        first confirmation first serve basis and this may result in double filing of applications. There will NOT  
        be any video presentation by the domestic helpers.   Of course, it will be more costly to obtain biodata
        from the middlemen and  this additonal cost may be passed on by the maid agency to their clients
        and/or  deflected in the maid's loan.

 
                                              
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    The above pointers are the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) of the employers.    
                   
   Should you need further clarification, please do not hesitate to email us.

  Your best bet is to choose the right maid agency who will supply not only
       qualified applicants but  will be around to service you when you have a problem
       with your maid. The maid agencies are advertised in the classified section of The
       Straits Times.

  Remember there are many factors  affecting good employer-maid relationships
         and one of these factors is the human chemistry between the maid and the
       employer. Unfortunately both come from different cultures, language and religion.

   Best of luck.