Help - what do I do?

[Erin]

My maid wears a uniform too! It's not really a "uniform" in the sense that the maid looks like a businesswoman, the maid's outfits in Lim's are nice cotton candy-striped or plain-colored striped dresses or a top and culottes. They are quite pretty and feminine. I felt responsible when my maid spilled some bleach on her t-shirt and ruined it, so rather than Perly having to go buy some clothes I bought her a couple of maid's outfits instead. She chose the one's she liked at Lim's and likes them very much. I had to wear a school uniform (so do my kids) and a uniform when I worked so I can't see why a maid shouldn't wear one. And it does look like the maid has a more professional appearance than a scruffy old t-shirt with things like "Tabernacle of Joy" written on it too!  

[Neukammer]

I am new in Singapore. I wish I had stumbled on this great forum before I hired my maid. I got her by courtesy of the supermarket notice board. The flyer said something like: "Great maid, loves children, excellent cook. We are leaving. Interested, call Mrs Bull. I tore off a strip with the name and phone number. I assumed that the Mrs Bull was the employer and called. She praised maid Mariana and I was so impressed I arranged to meet her.

It was only after I had hired her that I realised that Mrs Bull was not her regular work permit employer but her part-time employer. Now thanks to Question, the next time I hire, and that will not be too soon, I will look for the maid's real employer and phone number shown on the work permit.

Thanks, Question

[Chandrika]

I am a maid and I do not think a candy-striped frock makes me look smart and professional. I also am not thinking that I look sloppy if I am wearing a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, which is also what my ma'am
is wearing when she is at home. She is not looking sloppy. Only maids are looking sloppy to be wearing a t-shirt and a pair of shorts.

T-shirt and shorts are very comfortable when you are cleaning, sweeping, etc. If I want to be looking smart, I will be wearing my elegant sari. But sari is good for looking, not working.

I will die if my husband will be seeing me wearing a suit that is saying or showing "Chandrika is a maid." I was a teacher but I was never wearing a uniform. Nobody in my school is wearing a  uniform, only school children. And police and military. And now I am a maid because the salary of a teacher is only enough to buy working clothes (sari), costly sandals or shoes, transportation and meals. As a maid, what I am keep every cent I am earning, no bus fare, no lunch to be paying for.

Does Ma'am Question wear uniform when she is in States, if Ma'am Question is not a lady of leisure at home? Maybe if I am unlucky to be working for Ma'am Question, she will be saying to me, "Oh, Chandrika, I will be treating you like family, only if you will be wearing a uniform uniform."

No uniform. Maybe my husband will divorce me when I am going home.

[Reply]

I inform the maid when she comes for an interview that I will provide a maid's outfit. She can choose whether or not to come and work for me or to decline. The maid only wears a uniform when on duty - not in the evenings or day off for goodness sake,
so no-one (certainly not her husband!)is likely to see her in her maid's dress anyway. Actually my current maid is from Sri Lanka - and happily wears a uniform, she wore one for her previous employer, and always looks fresh and well groomed. She chose her new outfits herself at Lim's. It saves her lots of money as she does not have to spend money on clothes at work, and it doesn't matter if they get damaged by bleach etc. Some (and I stress *some*) maids look rather too 'sexy' in their very tight tops and skimpy shorts and do not look professional at all.  

   

[To Maid Phobia]

who posted on 28-12-2000 10:30 AM            

I find the past topics interesting and go back to read them now and again and notice this posting by Maid Phobia. I refer to her  statement: "Despite this, I think there are good maids out there - honestly!" I second your statement and I think you will be pleased that Gloria feels the same way. Many others too.

So in spite of maids whose wants to borrow money so that their husbands can do business (monkey business); whose sons need computer lessons (how to play computer games), etc., there are good maids around. See what Gloria and others write at
http://www.expatsingapore.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001732.html