You employ foreign domestic workers (FDW) because they make your life easier. They can help out around the house or help take care of the kids. However, this doesn’t mean that you no longer have a responsibility to them, as an employer, as long as they are doing their job. When you hire maids in Singapore, you should also think about being a good employer so your working relationship is mutually beneficial.
What Are Your Responsibilities as an Employer When You Hire Maids in Singapore?
One of the most common mistakes that employers make is not knowing their responsibilities to their FDW. They don’t consider their maid’s needs while being very demanding about the needs of the household. Clearly, this arrangement won’t have a good outcome as the maid will feel overworked and underappreciated. So, if you want to hire maids in Singapore, what do you have to remember?1. You are responsible for your maid’s overall well-being.
Definitely, you should provide your FDW with a comfortable living environment. Make space for her where she can have undisturbed rest and have her privacy. Her room has to have basic amenities such as a comfortable mattress, bedding, curtains, as well as sufficient natural lighting and ventilation. When it comes to daily meals, you need to provide your maid with reasonable and sufficient meals. Food is an important factor to your maid’s well-being and happiness. For most employers, they share the food that they, too, eat. But, if you have a busy lifestyle, and most of the food you consume is fast food, then you should provide your helper with fresh ingredients and condiments for her to make her own meal.Since well-being also has something to do with one’s happiness, make sure that you treat your help as a human being – with kindness and respect. Definitely, she will reciprocate all of the love that your family is showing her.
2. Come up with an employment contract you and your FDW agree upon.
Before you hire maids in Singapore, you have to come up with an employment contract that will protect you, as the employer, and your maid. It’s much better to have everything in writing because it serves as a guide that allow you and your domestic helper avoid misunderstanding.What should you include in a contract when you hire maids in Singapore? It should talk about your FDWs wages (and allowances, if applicable), placement loan, total number of rest days per month, compensation in lieu of rest day, notice period, compensation in lieu of termination notice.
Ask your maid employment agency to draw something up for you. You may also ask them about early termination of an employment contract as well as a safety agreement. All of the mentioned content of the employment agreement are essential and should be agreed upon by yourself and your domestic helper.
3. Have her examined every six months.
You have to take note of your domestic helper’s six-monthly medical exam. It is required by MOM (Ministry of Manpower), or else her work permit will be revoked. Doing a checkup every six months ensures that your FDW is healthy and able to work. Take note that you have to shoulder the fee as well as other medical expenses that occur as the result of the six-monthly medical checkup.4. Give your helper’s wage on time and keep a record of it.
Your employment contract should clearly state the exact date of your domestic helper’s salary. It’s the employer’s responsibility to pay it on time. If you’re running a little late, it’s alright as long as you pay the salary no longer than seven (7) days of the said date on the contract. If you fail to do so, MOM will have to step in. Keep track of the salary you are giving by having your helper receive and sign a payslip. Better yet, as good practice, open a bank account for her so you can deposit the salary there, and she can withdraw it or use her card to purchase anything anytime. The great thing about this is that you can easily track the deposits you’ve made.5. Spend time with your children.
What does spending time with your children have to do with your hired help? For one, it can lighten her load and give her some rest. It is not ideal to hand over the full responsibility of child rearing to your maid. Although your life is busy, you have to make it a point to spend quality time with your family.6. Communicate openly when you hire maids in Singapore.
Don’t expect your maid to be perfect. Once she arrives at your home, she is not going to understand how things are done right away. She needs time to adjust and learn. Be patient with her and communicate openly. Talk about what she can and cannot do. Make it clear. In due time, she will understand how your household is run, and will do things on her own initiative.7. Know the benefits of hiring from a reliable maid agency.
Did you know that you can hire a maid directly? Let’s say a friend of yours is going out of the country and she doesn’t need her maid anymore, so you can direct hire her maid instead. Doing this will allow you to save on maid agency fees. Direct hiring is getting more popular these days but is it safe? The pros and cons must be considered and we will talk about this more in depth in another blog article soon.However, hiring from a reputable and reliable maid agency like Universal Employment Agency Pte Ltd is more advantageous because there’s a larger pool of helpers to choose from. You can choose the best one! Also, it’s common for mismatches to occur in direct hiring situations – a maid doesn’t have the necessary skills or attitude to fit the family’s needs. So better to be safe and use a reputable and reliable maid agency that always provides assistance and great after-sales customer service whenever any issue with your hired maid arises.
All of these points are all you need to have a great working relationship with your foreign domestic worker. If you cannot fulfil any of the mentioned responsibilities, then you should think twice and not hire maids in Singapore. Be responsible as an employer.
If you feel that you can fulfil the role of a good employer, then don't hesitate to contact us at 6735 3456 to begin your search for the right maid for your family now!
Alternatively, you may also wish to first submit your requirements using our online form here and we will respond to you within 3 business days.
