Hello everyone!
Am having a headache here over domestic helper issues. Not sure if anyone of you can give me some suggestions? (Sorry for long post ahead!)
My current one has been with me for over 1.5years. Her initial intention was to stay on after her contract and I will increase her pay by $100 to match the new pay in the market.
Recently I found out she went to register with another maid agency. Then I tried to test her out by saying my #1 will be going to playgrp next year. She responded by saying she may not be working, she still considering. I got a rude shock. We then understand why she is getting so sloppy in her work.
Yesterday, she tried to ask me to sign a Letter of transfer form for her. I refused because I have no idea who her agent is and who is this prospective employer. Oh and she has yet to have an interview with the agency. I told her she only have 2 choices. I will only send her back to where I got her or back home. She told me not to send her back to agent as she no longer have contract with them, dun send her back home as well as the new agent mentioned something about going to Batam.
I didn't want to send her back to Indonesia as she bought a land back at home and has about 2 instalments left. If I send her back, she will have to pay agency loan again to come back to work. (My mum sounded her out, she say the agency told her with her 3yrs experience she can be paid $500.. not sure how true)
I then went to an agency under my friend's recommendation. They recommended a transfer Myanmar maid, quite new, English not very good. Well, my mum say there will be problem communicating with her over the phone if we take her. So I didn't pay anything and told them I will consider.
Then I googled and found out the potential agency has quite a number of bad reviews since '09. Last mth they were slapped with a fine for fixing maids' salaries. So I decided not to get from them.
Yesterday, I found out from my mum that she actually told my maid we are looking for a replacement(which I told her not to.. afraid she might start to take stuff and pass to friends outside, knowing that she is leaving- happened to my sister). My mum told me the reason for telling her is to let her know blah blah then hope she will stay, which I already told my mum I am not going to "retain" her, as she is giving quite a number of problems and I can't open one eye close one eye le
I understand that getting a maid is basically like gambling. It depends on luck. But I need to find an agency that will help me if I run into trouble with the maid. Will be going back to the current agency and see if there are any transfers or suitable ones, can't be too smart to overwrite my mum or I (my current maid is like that -_- Tell her not to, she still will do it her way. Only plus point is she can cook w/o supervision.)
Do any of you have any recommendations and what should I look out for? I first chose my current helper as she was interacting well with my girl on the spot when she was 3mths old. We found out that she will lock herself and my girl in her room while she sleeps in the afternoon and my girl plays in her room.
AHHHHHH *pulls hair* Only can train this upcoming holiday b4 i go back to work again...
Any suggestions and advice is greatly appreciated! TIA!!
