Maid crisis

Sajnu wrote:

Hi all my dear frds, I really need some valuable suggestions on hiring helpers from seniors here. In my 3 years time, I have been hiring 11 helpers. It's the worst experience each time. They need a day off every week and most of the time they stick on for max of 3 to 4 months and then without any notice just disappear. I do not ask them to do my cooking and they just assist me in chopping. The other work I have is cleaning and laundry. It is just recently they had to be of help with my 9 month old baby. I always ask them to sleep as early as they want to. But they do not give me honest reasons on y they want to leave. Are all the helpers here like this?

Lots of reasons go into play why you can´t keep your maids:

1. The pay. Is it commensurate with the workload and hours?
2. Generally employees want 2 days off a week.
3. Probably they want privacy like a maid´s quarters or they want to go home everyday.
4. Do you use disposable diapers where they don´t have to wash those?
5. How safe are they in your home?
6. Are living conditions or the environment comfortable enough for them?

You should have a thorough interview of their needs. You should tell them ahead of time the demands of their service, how much they expect to be paid and the hours. There´s too much turn-around of maids within a 3 year period. There´s got to be a very telling reason to have that. How about their adjustment to a different culture, customs and traditions including religious beliefs? Is your spouse  a Filipino or Indian? They must not be comfortable enough to stay longer and you should discover the reason yourself.

If you have relatives, I´m sure they can help with the placement of a suitable one.

robal

Depends where you live and who finds your maid, in the province a live in maid is about 3k to 5kphp per month, plus food and accommodation, then it gradually goes up from there.  If you are in a big city and hirer through and agency the you can end up paying about 20 to 25k php per month, of course this is paid to the agency, then they will paid the maid about 15k php per month.   You will pay more for a maid that comes in every day, as they have to buy there own food and accommodation and daily transport.

Always remember that a fully trained nurse after paying for 4 years of study, will make about 30k to 35k per month, they work shift work (up on night shifts) and 6 days per week.

One day off is normal.  Don't give them any more.

For living quarters, they don't expect or need much, generally one small room.

Hirer through a friend, some one you or your partner knows or works with.

robal wrote:

Lots of reasons go into play why you can´t keep your maids:

1. The pay. Is it commensurate with the workload and hours?
2. Generally employees want 2 days off a week.
3. Probably they want privacy like a maid´s quarters or they want to go home everyday.
4. Do you use disposable diapers where they don´t have to wash those?
5. How safe are they in your home?
6. Are living conditions or the environment comfortable enough for them?

You should have a thorough interview of their needs. You should tell them ahead of time the demands of their service, how much they expect to be paid and the hours. There´s too much turn-around of maids within a 3 year period. There´s got to be a very telling reason to have that. How about their adjustment to a different culture, customs and traditions including religious beliefs? Is your spouse  a Filipino or Indian? They must not be comfortable enough to stay longer and you should discover the reason yourself.

If you have relatives, I´m sure they can help with the placement of a suitable one.

robal

.

Robal, I see you live in Brazil, it is not the Philippines.

Sajnu wrote:

Hi all my dear frds, I really need some valuable suggestions on hiring helpers from seniors here. In my 3 years time, I have been hiring 11 helpers. It's the worst experience each time. They need a day off every week and most of the time they stick on for max of 3 to 4 months and then without any notice just disappear. I do not ask them to do my cooking and they just assist me in chopping. The other work I have is cleaning and laundry. It is just recently they had to be of help with my 9 month old baby. I always ask them to sleep as early as they want to. But they do not give me honest reasons on y they want to leave. Are all the helpers here like this?

Dear Sajnu,

I think some part of this story is missing.  Please don't take this as an insult, but my experience with dealing with Indian expats while living in the states, I fined them to be a "little" thrift (putting it mildly).

Employee's want to know how much are they paid and when is payday. When payday arrives, are they must be paid timely? Are they being paid a fair wage?

Are you or members of your family demanding or abusive?

Are the maids treated respectfully as if a member of the family?

Do the maids have access for food in the kitchen without asking?

When grocery shopping do you consider the Filipino diet? When my wife and I shop, we take the maid and let her pick out personal items for herself.

Does the maid have access to the TV on her own personal time?

As mentioned by others, does the maid have her own private room with proper furnishings?

What kind of help do you need with the baby?

pej1111 wrote:

robal wrote:

Lots of reasons go into play why you can´t keep your maids:

1. The pay. Is it commensurate with the workload and hours?
2. Generally employees want 2 days off a week.
3. Probably they want privacy like a maid´s quarters or they want to go home everyday.
4. Do you use disposable diapers where they don´t have to wash those?
5. How safe are they in your home?
6. Are living conditions or the environment comfortable enough for them?

You should have a thorough interview of their needs. You should tell them ahead of time the demands of their service, how much they expect to be paid and the hours. There´s too much turn-around of maids within a 3 year period. There´s got to be a very telling reason to have that. How about their adjustment to a different culture, customs and traditions including religious beliefs? Is your spouse  a Filipino or Indian? They must not be comfortable enough to stay longer and you should discover the reason yourself.

If you have relatives, I´m sure they can help with the placement of a suitable one.

robal

.

Robal, I see you live in Brazil, it is not the Philippines.

I lived in the Philippines for a year and 11mos (22 years ago) so I know much about the Philippine culture. I speak Tagalog and Ilocano very fluently and 2 more dialects. I kept a maid during that time, 2 days off - Saturday and Sunday. I paid about a half more or a little bit more than the average salary a maid made in Baguio. I gave her a lot of freedom on food and her hours. She stayed until I left the Philippines...

I also have a maid in Brazil. This maid works for me for 8 years now.

robal

W9XR wrote:

Sajnu wrote:

Hi all my dear frds, I really need some valuable suggestions on hiring helpers from seniors here. In my 3 years time, I have been hiring 11 helpers. It's the worst experience each time. They need a day off every week and most of the time they stick on for max of 3 to 4 months and then without any notice just disappear. I do not ask them to do my cooking and they just assist me in chopping. The other work I have is cleaning and laundry. It is just recently they had to be of help with my 9 month old baby. I always ask them to sleep as early as they want to. But they do not give me honest reasons on y they want to leave. Are all the helpers here like this?

Dear Sajnu,

I think some part of this story is missing.  Please don't take this as an insult, but my experience with dealing with Indian expats while living in the states, I fined them to be a "little" thrift (putting it mildly).

Employee's want to know how much are they paid and when is payday. When payday arrives, are they must be paid timely? Are they being paid a fair wage?

Are you or members of your family demanding or abusive?

Are the maids treated respectfully as if a member of the family?

Do the maids have access for food in the kitchen without asking?

When grocery shopping do you consider the Filipino diet? When my wife and I shop, we take the maid and let her pick out personal items for herself.

Does the maid have access to the TV on her own personal time?

As mentioned by others, does the maid have her own private room with proper furnishings?

What kind of help do you need with the baby?

I would also observe if my husband does something for them to be uncomfortable and leave. There´s too much turn-around of personnel and this is not an accident. There´s something very wrong...

robal wrote:

I lived in the Philippines for a year and 11mos (22 years ago) so I know much about the Philippine culture. I speak Tagalog and Ilocano very fluently and 2 more dialects. I kept a maid during that time, 2 days off - Saturday and Sunday. I paid about a half more or a little bit more than the average salary a maid made in Baguio. I gave her a lot of freedom on food and her hours. She stayed until I left the Philippines...

I also have a maid in Brazil. This maid works for me for 8 years now.

robal

22 years ago? So much has changed since 22 years ago. For one, not many people had cellphones. If they did, their cellphones look like clunky CB radios where calling plans had 30 to 60 minute limits. Now, almost everyone living in the city here in the Philippines has a cellphone or 2. And most of them have access  to the internet or have a data plan. Many have social media accounts and are members of online messaging services like Messenger and Viber.

Same with managing a housekeeper then versus now. Now, they're more distracted. You have to set certain rules about posting on social media and limits as to how much time during their work hours they could spend on their cellphones or gadgets.

That's just one.  There are many more, such as now the employer is required to provide SSS, Philhealth, PagIBIG benefits to their employees. There are now laws on days off, etc.

FilAmericanMom wrote:

Same with managing a housekeeper then versus now. Now, they're more distracted. You have to set certain rules about posting on social media and limits as to how much time during their work hours they could spend on their cellphones or gadgets.

That's just one.  There are many more, such as now the employer is required to provide SSS, Philhealth, PagIBIG benefits to their employees. There are now laws on days off, etc.

FilAmericanMom,
You sound more like a dictator than employer. Required to pay benefits? hahaha....that's a funny one.  A simple household would need a C.P.A. I guess no one in the Philippines ever does cash business under the table? or A Filipina working in the states as  caregiver.

It's funny once a married Filipina has a taste of States, they become so class conscious and materialistic often looking down at other Filipinos. I guess that's why all the counterfeit items in the Philippines are so popular.

Elopment is an important reason for leaving you. They will suddenly disappear without telling you. Sometimes (often) they will come back when they are pregnant and dislike their boyfriend. The best is to have a lady who has already children and is married. She will be more stable emotionally

Yes the maid always has her own room with own T&B. I do pay her well according to the Indian standards.

Most of the maids who came usually wake up according to their own will by 4 am or 5 am. What I understand is nowadays maids don't like to assist in cooking nor look after the baby. They all want higher pay but no work! If we ask them to assist in something their faces go grumbled in seconds. Also why can't their salaries be standardized according to the work given. The issue of maids jumping jobs has increased because among expats, different nationalities pay differently.

I had married ones working but they are all greedy to make more money and do less work and relax.

I had helpers who were always on earphones and never finished work on time. I used to get so annoyed seeing it and I had to finally say please use your phones after your work.

Sajnu wrote:

Yes the maid always has her own room with own T&B. I do pay her well according to the Indian standards.

How much is the Indian standard ?  There is a couple of Indians in my village who cant keep their maids. One of these maids told us that she was never paid on time, sometimes not at all for 2 months ... the indian couple was involved in the 5/6 money lending scam.

Sorry I am not like that. I always pay every 15 days. The main job of my maid is to do overall cleaning plus laundry. The assisting of my baby is when I am doing ny cooking which is not a 24 hour job. I don't allow any of my maids to learn Indian cooking. The main thing they do is chopping only. I am not involved in any 5/6 lending scam. We are ADB spouses. Moreover my house is a small apartment which still has a separate maid's room with T&B.

Very true. Now they are highly demanding. If you ask them to come for an interview, it becomes like we become the inteviewee and they the interviewer!

FilAmericanMom wrote:

robal wrote:

I lived in the Philippines for a year and 11mos (22 years ago) so I know much about the Philippine culture. I speak Tagalog and Ilocano very fluently and 2 more dialects. I kept a maid during that time, 2 days off - Saturday and Sunday. I paid about a half more or a little bit more than the average salary a maid made in Baguio. I gave her a lot of freedom on food and her hours. She stayed until I left the Philippines...

I also have a maid in Brazil. This maid works for me for 8 years now.

robal

22 years ago? So much has changed since 22 years ago. For one, not many people had cellphones. If they did, their cellphones look like clunky CB radios where calling plans had 30 to 60 minute limits. Now, almost everyone living in the city here in the Philippines has a cellphone or 2. And most of them have access  to the internet or have a data plan. Many have social media accounts and are members of online messaging services like Messenger and Viber.

Same with managing a housekeeper then versus now. Now, they're more distracted. You have to set certain rules about posting on social media and limits as to how much time during their work hours they could spend on their cellphones or gadgets.

That's just one.  There are many more, such as now the employer is required to provide SSS, Philhealth, PagIBIG benefits to their employees. There are now laws on days off, etc.

You´re forgetting the human factor as to why they leave, 22 years ago or now. People´s temperament
or attitudes as human beings remain and a constant like in a given math formula since the dawn of times. That doesn´t change even with the advent or revolution on social media or communication.
You maltreat them in anyway with pay or so restrictive on rules that infringes on their well-being will be met with contempt!

Internet was in its infancy during my stay in Baguio, I had an account but I don´t see the relevance of that of my maid staying to work for me until I left. Also my maid in Brazil for 8 years now. Is that to you a coincidence or an effort built into to satisfy and avoid all the parameters of conflict between the employer and the employee? Internet and social media interaction is very well advanced like the US in Brazil but I have not seen any problem with that. A 15 minute break very 2 hours satisfied that need
for Facebook, WhatsApp etc.

You should enlighten us as to "the laws on days off etc." Am I giving too much days off to your opinion?

robal

Sajnu wrote:

Most of the maids who came usually wake up according to their own will by 4 am or 5 am. What I understand is nowadays maids don't like to assist in cooking nor look after the baby. They all want higher pay but no work! If we ask them to assist in something their faces go grumbled in seconds. Also why can't their salaries be standardized according to the work given. The issue of maids jumping jobs has increased because among expats, different nationalities pay differently.

Not all work for expats and not all expats have lots of money. The purpose of the interview is to let them know of what´s required of them and how much you´re going to pay. The duties are pre-defined
nothing else. YOU make the rules like cooking or looking after the baby and NOT the other way around!
Who´s the boss?

Sajnu wrote:

I had married ones working but they are all greedy to make more money and do less work and relax.

Human nature of "self preservation." That´s why you give a just salary according to the workload and hours. 15-minute breaks can also help... A happy employee won´t look for another job.

Sajnu wrote:

Very true. Now they are highly demanding. If you ask them to come for an interview, it becomes like we become the inteviewee and they the interviewer!

They only want to know how it would pan out between the 2 of you. You´re the boss but you should level with them when it comes to benefits.

You should quote someone so we know whom you´re responding to.

In many houses they stay even with a monthly day off and the salary and benefits are not that high. Ideally once a week day off is what happens now.

I will surely mention all the 11 maids who gave me a tough time. I don't want anyone to hire them because they all cheated me.

I always give them breaks during noon. Sometimes they just tell me they don't like to sleep or take naps in the day. Also they sleep very early.

Sajnu wrote:

In many houses they stay even with a monthly day off and the salary and benefits are not that high. Ideally once a week day off is what happens now.

Yes if they like their employers and/or they have to feed a familly

Sajnu wrote:

I always give them breaks during noon. Sometimes they just tell me they don't like to sleep or take naps in the day. Also they sleep very early.

Thats the minimum you have to give them !!! We are not in India were maids are more slaves than human beings !! There is no casts system in the Philippines !

geolefrench wrote:

Sajnu wrote:

Yes the maid always has her own room with own T&B. I do pay her well according to the Indian standards.

How much is the Indian standard ?  There is a couple of Indians in my village who cant keep their maids. One of these maids told us that she was never paid on time, sometimes not at all for 2 months ... the indian couple was involved in the 5/6 money lending scam.

Hello Geolefrench,

She says she pays to the Indian standards. . . . . . hahahahaha that's why they quit. Sounds like Indian slavery.

Many years ago, I owned a driver training school in Chicago. Michael Reese Hospital had many Indian Doctors, seemed they all wanted to learn how to drive. We ran a promotion of a free lesson for new students. We had several of them call for the free lesson, when the lesson was over some of them admitted they were taking lessons at other schools & just wanted the free lesson.

The lessons were one on one. Sometimes when picking up an enrolled student (not a free lesson), four of them would come out, one to take the lesson and three in the back seat to observed.

When ever they called for info, the only thing they were interested in was price, nothing else mattered.

From time to time I would see an investigation of how some Filipino OFW's are treated as maids. Some of them are verbally, physically or sexually abused. She mentioned T&B?  Maybe she meant T&A? hahahaha

remember the key. Everyone should come out as a winner

Hi,
  This is a forum to help expats and not to make fun of expats whatever nationality you are. Indian standards are not something that you can laugh at. I was paying all my maids 10K and if they needed anything extra, I give them that too but as advance. The workload in my house is just that. I don't ask my helper to clean my big garden and big swimming pool both which I don't have. I know of a South American expat who pays 15K and makes the maid look after 3 kids plus do all the housework. I have just 2 kids, my older one is independent and I only ask my helper to assist my baby during the day when I do my cooking. For the benefit of everyone's sake, we are not looking at a forum to laugh at other nationalities. We are seeking help from forums and not to be mocked at!

Please don't abuse countries in your conversation. I am not bringing any country into the topic. My topic is about maids in Philippines. In India we treat our maids just like one among us and so did I do the same here as well. It is not my fault that the helpers don't want to do any kind of help. I used them only to assist me in my work and not a Hitler lifestyle! In history,  slavery was mostly done by the other nationalities to us Indians and many Asians long back and that's how we all fought and got independence.

Sajnu wrote:

Hi all my dear frds, I really need some valuable suggestions on hiring helpers from seniors here. In my 3 years time, I have been hiring 11 helpers. It's the worst experience each time. They need a day off every week and most of the time they stick on for max of 3 to 4 months and then without any notice just disappear. I do not ask them to do my cooking and they just assist me in chopping. The other work I have is cleaning and laundry. It is just recently they had  to be of help with my 9 month old baby. I always ask them to sleep as early as they want to. But they do not give me honest reasons on y they want to leave. Are all the helpers here like this?

Hi Sanju,

I know what you're going through. You're not alone. I've gone through several housekeepers and nannies during the 11 years we've been here.  Some stayed for 2 years while others left in 2 months. Some had good work ethic while others were just immature. And when it happens that one leaves soon after being hired without giving a reason, I ask myself, what did I do?

From my experience, it is hard to find a housekeeper who's trustworthy, with good work ethic who will not take advantage of you. I prefer getting a housekeeper through referrals from friends, relatives and their help. But most are reluctant because it would embarrass them if the referral turns out to be bad.

I would not recommend finding a housekeeper through an agency. I did that once around 8 years ago, and I felt I was scammed by the agency. The contract was that I pay them a 15,000 fee to refer a housekeeper, the housekeeper gets paid 8,000 / month. You can ask for a replacement up to 3 times, if the housekeeper leaves or if you don't find them suitable, but you'll have to pay 800 to cover transpo fees (even if the transpo from their agency to your house is just a lot less than that).

The contract with the agency expires in 6 months or up to 3 replacements, whichever comes first. When the contract expires, I'll have to pay again 15,000 if I want to get more referrals. I think it behooves the agency if they give me a bad referral or one who has a tendency to quit within a short period.

I'm sure you are a kind mom. And like me, you tried your best to make your house help stay. The truth is the ones who have a good work ethic and stay for over a year are rare. I'm fortunate that recently I found a good one, someone who is caring, street smart, and has a good work ethic. She has been with us for over 10 months. I pray you find the same.

For now, read up on the Kasambahay Law. You do need to pay SSS, PagIBIG, and PhilHealth benefits to your employee. I require my hirees to have an SSS #. The ID has their birthday on it, so you'll know if your hiree is a minor (employment of which is illegal).

While you're waiting for the right one to come along, try to create a schedule for doing house work. Like a day for changing / washing linens, cleaning the bathroom, doing laundry, etc. Setting a schedule has helped me a lot because I do go to work, I have 2 kids who go to school, plus a house that's not small.

I'll try to post more on this topic because I do want to help you.  It's refreshing to have a female expat in this forum. Try to ignore some of the posts here in this thread that are judgmental. Just in this thread I had been stereotyped as a maid who married a foreigner and has become materialistic and snobby. This is not the first time I was stereotyped. You also were subjected to Indian stereotyping in this thread starting with the 5/6 thing. Just ignore them. They don't know us. We know who we are.

W9XR wrote:

FilAmericanMom wrote:

That's just one.  There are many more, such as now the employer is required to provide SSS, Philhealth, PagIBIG benefits to their employees. There are now laws on days off, etc.

Required to pay benefits? hahaha....that's a funny one.  A simple household would need a C.P.A. I guess no one in the Philippines ever does cash business under the table?

It is against the rules of this forum to advocate breaking any laws.  CPA not required to learn the simple rules, can learn how to do it easily.  Perhaps you would need a CPA, most would not.

For those who write only abusive language here, I mentioned T&B which means Toilet & Bath,that's not T&A!!!!! Those whose eyes see just bad things read only bad things!

Sajnu wrote:

For those who write only abusive language here, I mentioned T&B which means Toilet & Bath,that's not T&A!!!!! Those whose eyes see just bad things read only bad things!

You need to realize the stooge (curly) was only making what he thought was a joke.  You need not take him seriously, you need a thick skin to get information on this forum.  Good luck.

Thank you FilAmericanmom for your sincere words. Waiting for more feedback on this.

Hi mugtech,
     I do have a thick skin always but pinpointing nationalities among expats is not a good idea here since we are all expats in Philippines. We need to focus on a topic and not poke at each other. Jokes are good to be maintained at a certain limit always !

Sorry guys but I have never attacked Indians or any other nationalities. I was just giving the experience of the maids in my village who could not stay long in the house of their Indian couple. They were involved in 5/6 but could not pay their maids on time.

I have never said that Sajnu is in 5/6 !!!! how can, I don't know this person !!!

I just remark that Sajnu is surprised that a maid wants a day off every week " They need a day off every week and most of the time they stick on for max of 3 to 4 months and then without any notice just disappear."

My gosh what a surprise !    I just understand why they don't want to stay with you... That's the problem of expat mindset (whatever the nationality) !

geolefrench wrote:

I just remark that Sajnu is surprised that a maid wants a day off every week " They need a day off every week and most of the time they stick on for max of 3 to 4 months and then without any notice just disappear."

My gosh what a surprise !    I just understand why they don't want to stay with you... That's the problem of expat mindset (whatever the nationality) !

Filipino domestics are treated that way in Hong Kong, every Sunday off but you must be back Sunday night.  Most Filipinas do it in Hong Kong for the money and because their immediate family is in the Philippines.   Would not expect domestics in the Philippines to be paid as they are in Hong Kong nor work the same hours.

Hello everyone,

This is to inform you that this thread shall be temporarily closed for review because of certain off-putting comments.

Thanks,

Diksha
Team Expat.com

[Thread closed]