Singaporean neighbours treating their Maid badly - what should I do?

[jalanperak]

I caught my husband having sex with our maid on the kitchen table. Should I make her pay for it?

I thought the usual practice was to slip her a little extra something.

[Jeannie's Hubby]

I caught my husband having sex with our maid on the kitchen table. Should I make her pay for it?

I thought the usual practice was to slip her a little extra something.

I did, that's what caused the bloody problem

[Not to worry]

I believe in Karma and one day these people will get their comeuppance and they are the type to then cry and say why ME and my family....  Justice will be done 

[maid custodian]

Finally!  It's the law to give them a day off!!!

[meow]

check this out!!!!  how many Singaporeans think like this guy?? is he for real??

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_774534.html

I READ with disbelief that the Government has decided that all maids will get a weekly day off from next year ('Weekly day off for maids a must from next year'; yesterday).

It might seem like a fair and simple decision, but have the policymakers considered the unintended consequences?

Let me list a few:

- Impact on the family: This will be severe for families with young children and are caring for disabled elderly members.

Many citizens are heeding the Government's call to have more children and to care for their parents. This is barely possible even with the daily assistance of a maid. While alternative arrangements can be made once a month, the requirement to give maids a weekly day off will tip the scales in overburdening such families. Parents may have to be put in nursing homes, which is an undesirable outcome.

- Hiring a maid: Families will find it harder to employ maids as most will want their days off. While it may be argued that some maids prefer to be paid in lieu of a day off, this is usually true only in the first six months, when they are still paying off their loans through their agencies. Once the loan is settled, most maids will insist on their days off. And they are likely to quit if they do not get their way.

Should this happen every six months, it would be exasperating as it is hard to train maids to take care of toddlers or the elderly.

- Impact on the maids: The problem is not whether maids will use their days off to run away. Rather, the exponential increase in days off may lead them to squander their hard-earned pay instead of saving it to help finance a better life when they return home. The higher risk of promiscuity, extramarital affairs and unintended pregnancies are also possible consequences.

- Impact on society: Many maids gather in big groups along Orchard Road on their days off, and some of these groups can be rowdy. What would be the impact on tourism?

The sudden government decision on having a weekly day off for maids, an important issue affecting families, is disappointing.

Thng Tien Guan

 

[Mr A]

check this out!!!!  how many Singaporeans think like this guy?? is he for real??

.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_774534.html

I READ with disbelief that the Government has decided that all maids will get a weekly day off from next year ('Weekly day off for maids a must from next year'; yesterday).

It might seem like a fair and simple decision, but have the policymakers considered the unintended consequences?

Let me list a few:

- Impact on the family: This will be severe for families with young children and are caring for disabled elderly members.

Many citizens are heeding the Government's call to have more children and to care for their parents. This is barely possible even with the daily assistance of a maid. While alternative arrangements can be made once a month, the requirement to give maids a weekly day off will tip the scales in overburdening such families. Parents may have to be put in nursing homes, which is an undesirable outcome.

- Hiring a maid: Families will find it harder to employ maids as most will want their days off. While it may be argued that some maids prefer to be paid in lieu of a day off, this is usually true only in the first six months, when they are still paying off their loans through their agencies. Once the loan is settled, most maids will insist on their days off. And they are likely to quit if they do not get their way.

Should this happen every six months, it would be exasperating as it is hard to train maids to take care of toddlers or the elderly.

- Impact on the maids: The problem is not whether maids will use their days off to run away. Rather, the exponential increase in days off may lead them to squander their hard-earned pay instead of saving it to help finance a better life when they return home. The higher risk of promiscuity, extramarital affairs and unintended pregnancies are also possible consequences.

- Impact on society: Many maids gather in big groups along Orchard Road on their days off, and some of these groups can be rowdy. What would be the impact on tourism?

The sudden government decision on having a weekly day off for maids, an important issue affecting families, is disappointing.

Thng Tien Guan

 

If its any consolation everyone else who has replied has ripped him a new asshole.

[In Tandem]

"They" need to change the rule that leaves employers bearing the responsibility for their maid's transgressions, i.e. losing the $5k bond when said maid gets pregnant or does a runner.

While you're bashing locals about their maids, they are not all strong on discipline. There is a local family in my neighbourhood who allow the maid's boyfriend to sleep over and another family who gave their maid a laptop with full internet access and allow her to go out on dates with the ang mohs she picks up.

[Internet Tough Guy]

"They" need to change the rule that leaves employers bearing the responsibility for their maid's transgressions, i.e. losing the $5k bond when said maid gets pregnant or does a runner.

While you're bashing locals about their maids, they are not all strong on discipline. There is a local family in my neighbourhood who allow the maid's boyfriend to sleep over and another family who gave their maid a laptop with full internet access and allow her to go out on dates with the ang mohs she picks up.

Have to admit, the locals have a point on this one at least. Can't tell you how many Indo maids I've slept with in Hong Kong. The Vietnamese and Thai working girls at OT are going to be pretty pissed too when they hear the Indos and Filipinas are giving it up for free.  Not good for business.

[Mr A]

"They" need to change the rule that leaves employers bearing the responsibility for their maid's transgressions, i.e. losing the $5k bond when said maid gets pregnant or does a runner.

While you're bashing locals about their maids, they are not all strong on discipline. There is a local family in my neighbourhood who allow the maid's boyfriend to sleep over and another family who gave their maid a laptop with full internet access and allow her to go out on dates with the ang mohs she picks up.

Oh my god, you're kidding me? You mean these people are letting a grown adult have access to the internet and go on dates? That's obscene. How are they supposed to retain total control over her 7 days a week if they treat her like an adult?

[Econ0mics]

Fact. They don't give a toss about controlling the silly maid, but, thanks to the rules, they'll lose their bond when she gets knocked up. If the rules were different and there was no danger of being forced to part with the $5k, it might be a different story. Frankly, they are a lot more trouble than they are worth.

[NMS1]

Fact. They don't give a toss about controlling the silly maid, but, thanks to the rules, they'll lose their bond when she gets knocked up. If the rules were different and there was no danger of being forced to part with the $5k, it might be a different story. Frankly, they are a lot more trouble than they are worth.

You do not lose your bond if she gets pregnant but she does need to be sent home immediately. If you find out (as we did) in advance of her medical then you will have time to find a replacement but if it only comes out at her 6 monthly medical she will be on the next plane out.

You only lose the bond if she runs away and cannot be found or if she fails to leave the country after the cancellation of her work permit. And most people have insurance against it anyway so they only lose a few hundred dollars.

[Exactly!]

Fact. They don't give a toss about controlling the silly maid, but, thanks to the rules, they'll lose their bond when she gets knocked up. If the rules were different and there was no danger of being forced to part with the $5k, it might be a different story. Frankly, they are a lot more trouble than they are worth.

You do not lose your bond if she gets pregnant but she does need to be sent home immediately. If you find out (as we did) in advance of her medical then you will have time to find a replacement but if it only comes out at her 6 monthly medical she will be on the next plane out.

You only lose the bond if she runs away and cannot be found or if she fails to leave the country after the cancellation of her work permit. And most people have insurance against it anyway so they only lose a few hundred dollars.

Well said. I get so sick of hearing about the 5k deposit risk as a justification for not allowing the maid to have a day off, leave the house, have a phone, talk to anyone...

I don't know anyone who coughed up 5k. Instead, most people get the bond (and bond insurance) through NTUC for a few hundred bucks. Even if someone does pay the full bond, they can insure it. The bond is just a pitiful, though very convenient, excuse.

[_Runner_]

Fact. They don't give a toss about controlling the silly maid, but, thanks to the rules, they'll lose their bond when she gets knocked up. If the rules were different and there was no danger of being forced to part with the $5k, it might be a different story. Frankly, they are a lot more trouble than they are worth.

You do not lose your bond if she gets pregnant but she does need to be sent home immediately. If you find out (as we did) in advance of her medical then you will have time to find a replacement but if it only comes out at her 6 monthly medical she will be on the next plane out.

You only lose the bond if she runs away and cannot be found or if she fails to leave the country after the cancellation of her work permit. And most people have insurance against it anyway so they only lose a few hundred dollars.

Well said. I get so sick of hearing about the 5k deposit risk as a justification for not allowing the maid to have a day off, leave the house, have a phone, talk to anyone...

I don't know anyone who coughed up 5k. Instead, most people get the bond (and bond insurance) through NTUC for a few hundred bucks. Even if someone does pay the full bond, they can insure it. The bond is just a pitiful, though very convenient, excuse.

But if she does a runner, you lose 5000 dollars' worth, i.e. the bond that you put up.

[NMS1]

Fact. They don't give a toss about controlling the silly maid, but, thanks to the rules, they'll lose their bond when she gets knocked up. If the rules were different and there was no danger of being forced to part with the $5k, it might be a different story. Frankly, they are a lot more trouble than they are worth.

You do not lose your bond if she gets pregnant but she does need to be sent home immediately. If you find out (as we did) in advance of her medical then you will have time to find a replacement but if it only comes out at her 6 monthly medical she will be on the next plane out.

You only lose the bond if she runs away and cannot be found or if she fails to leave the country after the cancellation of her work permit. And most people have insurance against it anyway so they only lose a few hundred dollars.

Well said. I get so sick of hearing about the 5k deposit risk as a justification for not allowing the maid to have a day off, leave the house, have a phone, talk to anyone...

I don't know anyone who coughed up 5k. Instead, most people get the bond (and bond insurance) through NTUC for a few hundred bucks. Even if someone does pay the full bond, they can insure it. The bond is just a pitiful, though very convenient, excuse.

But if she does a runner, you lose 5000 dollars' worth, i.e. the bond that you put up.

You don't have to pay up the $5000 if you have taken out the insurance which, if you have any sense, you will.

[Nickel&Dime]

A lot of people here cannot afford the bond insurance (but they do need a maid so that both parents can work to earn enough to cover their bare essentials while the maid looks after the kids and/or the elderly parents), more so now that they are forced to pay more for the maid health insurance. As a result, they rely on keeping a tight rein on the maid's activities. Not that it does them much good, they still manage to get out and, get shagging and end up knocked up. Go figure.