Hiring a Maid in Singapore without an Agency
Nowadays, most households in Singapore are facing difficulties in keeping balance of family and work responsibilities as dual-income family has been increasing from day to day. Therefore, hiring a maid is no longer for a luxurious lifestyle but becoming necessary for every household. A maid is hired to care for the children or elderly, as well as maintain the cleanliness for the employer’s house.
In this article, you will get to learn the importance of and benefit from employing a maid. Besides that, you will also understand the process of hiring a maid in Singapore without an agency.
Is it possible to hire a maid without agency?
For sure you can hire a maid without an agency on a cheaper cost. However, you will be responsible to complete all the requirements in the legal process of application. You may choose from the candidates of wide selection from forums and websites online such as HelperPlace and netmaid.
To ensure the maids are qualified for the job and if they are a right match, you must ask them all the necessary questions throughout the interview.
Adequate shelter
The accommodation should protect the maid from environmental elements such as heat, rain, or strong winds.
- It is unacceptable to have the maid sleep in the balcony.
Basic Amenities
You must at least provide the maid with a mattress, pillow, blanket, bathroom amenities and toiletries. Examples of toiletries include soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
- Some employers provide additional money on top of the maid’s salary to purchase their own personal toiletries. Whereas other employers tag along with the maid to purchase the toiletries that the maid needs.
Sufficient Ventilation
Your maid’s living space must be sufficiently ventilated. Mechanical ventilation (e.g. electrical fan) must be provided if natural ventilation is inadequate.
- Some maids may not be used to or comfortable with using the air-conditioner. It is common for employers to purchase an electric fan for ventilation.
Safety
Your maid must not sleep near any dangerous equipment or structure that could potentially cause harm or hurt to her.
Modesty
Your maid must not sleep in the same room as a male adult or teenager. If you install video recording devices at home, you must inform your maid of the devices and where they are placed. You must not install them in areas that will compromise her privacy or modesty, e.g. where she sleeps, change clothes, or the bathroom area.
- Placing a camera in the maids’ designated room is a breach of privacy.
- Maids can sleep in the same room as a male elderly, but has to be on a separate bed.
- Maids can also sleep in the same room as young children or babies.
Space and Privacy
You should provide your maid with a separate room. If that is not possible, you must ensure that her accommodation has adequate space and privacy.
- Some employers do not have an extra room for the maid to sleep in, therefore provide partition walls in the living room to create a makeshift private area for the maid to sleep in.
#3: Maid’s Off-days
Currently, employers are only encouraged to provide 1 off day per week (4 off days a month – commonly on a Sunday) to allow for your maid to rest and recuperate.
Mentioned on 22 July 2021, MOM stated that in order to boost the support for maids and their well-being, all maids will be entitled to a minimum of 1 off day a month, with effect from end-2022. This decision was based on creating more opportunities for maids to form their own support systems outside the household.
Generally, employers allow for their maids to leave as early as 6am and come back by 8pm, just about the time when the sun sets. As much as it is the maids’ off-day, as an employer you need to practice the due diligence of ensuring that the maid returns back home safely. Do note that the maid is not allowed to sleep else where aside from your house during their off-day.
Maids often use their off-days to head out to socialise or in some cases, choose to spend their off days resting at home. During such occurrences, the maid should not be asked to work. In the case that you and your maid reach an agreement for her to work on her days off, she must be compensated for those worked off days. The amount to be compensated for each off day can be calculated by dividing her monthly salary by 26. For instance: Monthly salary $700 / 26 days = $27/off-day (Rounded up)
Conclusion
Hiring a full-time maid for your household does come with its own set of benefits, but it has its own set of responsibilities and costs that need to be carefully considered before making the decision. If you put in the time and effort to build a positive relationship and manage your maid effectively, you will find that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.