I really wonder what does the agency fees cover apart from providing the maids bios to prospective employers. My existing agency has the CASETrust certification but has yet to live up to being able to provide a decent service.
Countless times that I had contacted them to find out about the status of my replacement maid entry, they tell me that it is in the process. The promise was 2 weeks, then it was before Christmas. Just before Christmas, I called them to ask exact date then they told me that the maid is unable to come in due to some immigration problems and I didnt hear back from them.
Christmas came and gone and I still did not get any response from them. So I have to follow up with them again and again. Then I got another date which again was just another date. There were so many dates and I still didnt see my maid. The last date that I was given was 18 Jan. This was after I sent the agents an sms asking them for their boss' name so I can deal directly with him/her!
Just the other day there was a report on the news that sometime this year, the agencies must refund 50% of the agency fees to the employers if the agents do not match the maid with the employer requirements. I think this is a good move especially when the agents just want to dump their transfer maids/push their bios without really giving it much thought to the employer's requirement.
I am hoping that this will really take effect as it is really time consuming and expensive to change maids!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Week 7
When Foni told me that she is unable to cope with the housework, I immediately contacted the agent and told them that I would need to change Foni. I got Foni to write what are the work that she is facing problems with and she listed sweeping the house, mopping the floor, washing clothes and ironing clothes! I felt that these are really the very basic housework and if she is unable to do these, why would I want to keep her. I told the agent that I was not looking to bring in a daughter.
The agent hardly provided much choice for me to choose from in any case. I thenselected a Filipino maid to replace Foni on or around Foni's second week. Right up to now, Foni is still in my home!
The agent had told me that they would be able to get my Filipino maid to me in 2 weeks' time as they felt confident they would be able to get the maid without having to go through the Philippines' Government requirement.
Anyway, back to Foni - despite the phone interview I had with Foni that she was able to cook, she has never once cooked any meals. So far, either my sister or myself have been doing the cooking or we would be buying packed meals or have our meals at the restaurants, with her included. Rather disappointing that this is happening again.
In fact before I confirm Foni, I had wanted an older maid. The age criteria I was after was no younger than 28. I felt that if the maids were to lie on their age, they would like by a few years but not likely to be 10 years difference. Agent said they didnt have any Indonesian maids who are single and 28 years old. Those who are 28 years old are usually married or divorced with one or 2 kids in tow.
The agent hardly provided much choice for me to choose from in any case. I thenselected a Filipino maid to replace Foni on or around Foni's second week. Right up to now, Foni is still in my home!
The agent had told me that they would be able to get my Filipino maid to me in 2 weeks' time as they felt confident they would be able to get the maid without having to go through the Philippines' Government requirement.
Anyway, back to Foni - despite the phone interview I had with Foni that she was able to cook, she has never once cooked any meals. So far, either my sister or myself have been doing the cooking or we would be buying packed meals or have our meals at the restaurants, with her included. Rather disappointing that this is happening again.
In fact before I confirm Foni, I had wanted an older maid. The age criteria I was after was no younger than 28. I felt that if the maids were to lie on their age, they would like by a few years but not likely to be 10 years difference. Agent said they didnt have any Indonesian maids who are single and 28 years old. Those who are 28 years old are usually married or divorced with one or 2 kids in tow.
The early days - Foni Faroka
When she first came to my home on Monday, 15 November in the evening, she had only 4 pairs of shorts and a couple of t-shirts. This is despite me highlighting the need for her to have her own decent clothings which would be suitable for school.
Anyway, gave her several outfits for school, outings and home wear. I just dont understand these agents and maids. The maids are supposed to sign a 2 year contract but the amount of clothes and toiletries they actually bring is hardly enough for a month! Not an issue to provide for them but I felt that this should be on a mutual understanding basis rather than mandatory.
She came towards the start of my home renovation so the only work she really has to do is to accompany my son and sister to school then when they are back home, to help with the packing of my house contents.
Also as the school holidays start at the end of the week, there really is not much else except to help with the packing. As she is too young to work, she has no clue about a lot of the housework and what is expected of her. I noticed that she needs full supervision and this is a major problem as I dont have the time to do so. I wonder what they have been trained in the training centres in Indonesia!! One of my previous maids told me that all they did in the training centre was to memorise over 400 multiple choice questions.
Foni told me that she was given 3 books to memorise for her English entry test. There are 40 multiple choice questions to be answered and she needs to get a minimum of 20 questions to pass the test. She passed her English entry test on her first attempt.
Anyway, gave her several outfits for school, outings and home wear. I just dont understand these agents and maids. The maids are supposed to sign a 2 year contract but the amount of clothes and toiletries they actually bring is hardly enough for a month! Not an issue to provide for them but I felt that this should be on a mutual understanding basis rather than mandatory.
She came towards the start of my home renovation so the only work she really has to do is to accompany my son and sister to school then when they are back home, to help with the packing of my house contents.
Also as the school holidays start at the end of the week, there really is not much else except to help with the packing. As she is too young to work, she has no clue about a lot of the housework and what is expected of her. I noticed that she needs full supervision and this is a major problem as I dont have the time to do so. I wonder what they have been trained in the training centres in Indonesia!! One of my previous maids told me that all they did in the training centre was to memorise over 400 multiple choice questions.
Foni told me that she was given 3 books to memorise for her English entry test. There are 40 multiple choice questions to be answered and she needs to get a minimum of 20 questions to pass the test. She passed her English entry test on her first attempt.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Yet Another Underaged Maid
My latest maid, Foni Faroka, arrived Singapore on Friday, 12 November 2010. Upon her arrival in Singapore, she was met by the agent's representative. There were 2 others Indonesian maids who arrived together with her and all 3 were escorted to someone's home. I knew this would be the case although some of the agents will usually say that the maids are housed in a dormitory and not in theirs or their bosses' private accommodation.
As she arrived Singapore late on Friday, she went for her medical test and safety course the following morning. Since MOM closes at around noon, she was unable to take her English entry test till Monday. According to Foni, there were 40 multiple choice questions. At the session which she took, there were 2 who failed their tests. Those who failed were allowed to re-sit their tests 2 more times. One of the 2 failed again and would need to re-sit and pass the 3rd and final attempt. Otherwise, she would be sent home.
She came to my home on Monday evening, escorted by her agent, Claire. When I saw her, I knew that she is definitely below the required age of 23. I am sure she is probably around 16 years old. Really pissed off and I told the agent but they said there is nothing they can do as the maid's passport indicated her age as 23!
This is not the first case anyway. And the recent case of the maid who threw a special needs child showed, the maid was only 18. These maids will deny they are under 23 years old until they are in trouble with the law, which she did .
Anyway, I had a phone interview with her while she was in the training centre and the agent also spoke with her to explain her duties. A week after she started working, she said there are a lot of work to do and she asked to be returned home! Her duties then was sweep the floor, mop floor, machine wash clothes plus ironing! She was supposed to cook as well but so far I have bought packed meals for herself as well.
As she arrived Singapore late on Friday, she went for her medical test and safety course the following morning. Since MOM closes at around noon, she was unable to take her English entry test till Monday. According to Foni, there were 40 multiple choice questions. At the session which she took, there were 2 who failed their tests. Those who failed were allowed to re-sit their tests 2 more times. One of the 2 failed again and would need to re-sit and pass the 3rd and final attempt. Otherwise, she would be sent home.
She came to my home on Monday evening, escorted by her agent, Claire. When I saw her, I knew that she is definitely below the required age of 23. I am sure she is probably around 16 years old. Really pissed off and I told the agent but they said there is nothing they can do as the maid's passport indicated her age as 23!
This is not the first case anyway. And the recent case of the maid who threw a special needs child showed, the maid was only 18. These maids will deny they are under 23 years old until they are in trouble with the law, which she did .
Anyway, I had a phone interview with her while she was in the training centre and the agent also spoke with her to explain her duties. A week after she started working, she said there are a lot of work to do and she asked to be returned home! Her duties then was sweep the floor, mop floor, machine wash clothes plus ironing! She was supposed to cook as well but so far I have bought packed meals for herself as well.
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