Angela Marie Ulam Cruz Lastimosa

This is Angela, my new maid.  Angela Marie finally came to my home on Saturday, 30 January 2011. Luckily I decided that I didnt want to switch to another Indonesian or I will have to continue changing my helpers! I was almost going to opt for a transfer maid which my agent had recommended as I really need to get Foni out of my home.  Marie, as we call her, is turning 24 this May.

So far since she has come to my home on 30 January 2011, she has performed reasonably well.  Like all the maids I had and from what I hear from others, for some reasons, these maids do not ask when they are unsure.  I think it is an ego issue perhaps.  To ask might equate to being silly or something!!

I've highlighted to her many times that it is very important to ask if unsure, same as in any job.  If you are unsure, you must ask your employer in order not to waste time doing the wrong thing.  I also told her that when I am at work, I also ask my boss when I am unsure.

I am generally quite happy that my sister, my son's main caregiver, is also quite happy with her so no real complaints.  So far she has done simple cooking on her own as I decided that I would be using premix sauces where she would not have to meddle too much by starting from scratch!

Thumbprint

A Mrs Goh of MOM called me on Tuesday, 15 February to say that I must bring my new maid ie Angela Marie for her thumbprint no later than Wednesday, 16 February as Marie has yet to get her thumbprint done.  As Marie has been in Singapore for more than 14 days and her thumbprint is not done, she is  considered to have overstayed in Singapore.  The problem is she cant get her thumbprint done as my previous maid, Foni Faroka, has yet to be transferred.

Mrs Goh asked me why dont I keep Foni since she had stayed in my home for about 2 months. I told her that she is underaged and incapable of doing housework independently. I was not prepared to babysit her as I was not looking for a daughter to take care of when I selected her. I had very specific requirements for my domestic helper and I had detailed my requirements to my agent.

Mrs Goh then told that I would have to repatriate Marie and I told her that I would not do such a thing. Otherwise I would have to pay a fine of between $100 and $300. Then she told me that I would have to get my previous maid, Foni Faroka, transferred first! I told her with a day's notice, how is the agent going to get this done. Also, I told her that it is strange that she had to call me just a day before expiry to let me know this.  I asked her for a contact name so I could write an appeal letter and she said there is nobody I could write to! I cant believe my ears but I was not going to argue with her as I know that I am going to insist that the agent reimburse me for this penalty since they caused it.

Mrs Goh contacted me again on Thursday, 17 February and asked if I had contacted the agent and what I was going to do! I was rather irritated with her and told her that I will follow up with the agent especially since she was not going to help!

Super annoyed with my agent as they did not inform me when is the last day that Angela Marie needs to get her thumbprint done before she must be deported. This is despite my numerous sms to both agents! According to Mrs Goh, the maid must have their thumbprint done no later than 14 days after their arrival int Singapore!  After I asked my agents for their boss name, they told me that the deadline had passed and that they will write to MOM to request for extension. 

When I mention the request for extension to Mrs Goh, she told me that the agents should know that for replacement maids, there will not be any extension of deadline allowed. She told me that the options available to me now would be to keep Foni and repatriate Angela or pay a fine of between $100 and $300 as Angela Marie is considered an overstayer. I wanted to ask her if she is out of her mind!! Why would I get a replacement maid if I had wanted Foni!! I asked her if there is someone I could write to in order that I could explain the issue and request for a waiver and she said there is no one!!

I immediately called the agent and told him what MOM had told me. I told him that since they had screwed up on this, if there is any cost charged to me, they must reimburse me which he agreed. I have to wait and see if there will be the charge. I was told that Foni finally got an employer interested in employing her. Imagine it was from 30 January that I returned her and she only got an employer on 14 February! She is just useless and my real sympathies to her new employer! Anyway, I needed her to get another employer so I could employ Marie.

I contacted the agent again and as Foni's transfer was just completed, the plan was for the agent to stopover at my office on Monday, 21 February and pass me the documents and passport no later than 4 pm. Alas, that was not to be which is nothing unusual with these agents! The agent sms me to say that her colleague will deliver the document to my home in the evening ie at 7:30 pm. Again, he didnt show up until several smses! Very frustrating!!!

After all the hassle, the agent will pick Angela Marie from my home on Tuesday, 22 February at 2 pm then send her directly to MOM for thumbprint and then send her back to me. Expected return was at 4:30 pm. However, at 4:00 pm, he called to say there were some technical issues and would be able to send her back after sorting this out.  He eventually sent her home at 5 pm.