Current issues, feedback & complaints on public services in Malaysia
I HAD recently applied for a maid from a local maid agency which claims to be the No 1 maid agency in Klang. Little did I know that I was in for loads of trouble.
First, I was slapped with a fee of RM6,515, which they assured me was a bargain price. But the maid did not arrive on the date promised. The agency than suggested that I employ a temporary maid at RM25 a day.
The agency also pointed out that if the temporary maid ran away, I would be liable for extra payments.
The maid I requested for arrived but was far below my expectations. The agency promptly said that was the luck of the draw.
Can’t we, after paying all that money, expect some quality service?
What is the basic criteria used to select these maids? We are given outdated photos to choose from and most of the information given are also false!
How can we be expected to judge the maid from her appearance and trust her with our loved ones?
It is high time the Ministry of Home Affairs laid down proper criteria and viewed this matter seriously. The employers are always at the losing end. There must be rules and regulations to protect us from being exploited by the agencies and the maids.
DR LALITHA P., Klang
Source: NST – January 31, 2008
6 responses to “Employment of maids: Paying more and getting a lot less”
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Peter Yew
January 31st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I empathize with you. My daughter’s maids are not up to expectations either and sending them home and reapplying for new ones is an expensive affair. Unlike hiring locals where one has a face-to-face interview, depending on biodata and a picture which is posed under supervision of the foreign maid agency cannot give an accurate assessment of the maid’s suitability. We have learned that what the maid declare as her preference need not be true, as time will tell.
Actually there is a better way but employers may have to pay more for the service. Maid must speak into a videocam, walk and perhaps show some of her skills in a shot videoclip that can be viewed from YouTube or at the employement agency’s office.
I believe that we should try not to use maids, not so much that they are no good but more so to stop ourselves from developing a maid dependency syndrome. Many hosts do not know where things are kept at home after allowing maids to run the domestic affairs. And children tend to be ‘bossy’ when they are used to have maids picking up after them.
WAN Mustafa
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Dear all
I am sorry to intrude.
I was involved in procuring maids directly from source countries i.Thailand & Indonesia.
No use using the videocam as we are from Malaysia anyway and we no longer command respect or high regard overseas
The crux of the matter is that we are slowly losing our economic advantage as a nation for the past five years.
Maids are human beings who will leave their families and children for at least two years to care about other peoples’ families/children.
As such the compensation must FAR commensurate with their sacrifice but our currency is weakening and their cost of living back home is going up. At the moment most democratic countries cannot provide and maids are forced to go to singapore/arab countries.
I agree with the above opinion and we should teach our daughters how to cook and clean and cut down on tuition/piano lessons.
staying
Cuteycue
August 20th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I have recently hired a maid direct from Indonesia by paying RM5000 mainly to llok after my 2 children. The maid told the agent over there that she can look after childeren well etc etc. But after coming here she is not good at all in looking after children. She doesn’t even know how to feed my baby. But she can do all the washing and cleaning. But my main important task is to look after my children as me and my husband are working, cleaning is not so important. I’m so frustrated. Since i took direct from Indon, I can’t get a replacement nor a refund. Some suggested to me to transfer her to some cleaning services and get some money back though not in full. Is this possible. Can someone help me. I’m so sad.
Cuteycue
August 20th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
…..
Rai
September 12th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
My maid is going back soon and her replacement is not here yet, contrary to my agent’s promise. So pening la! What to do?
Mr. Wan, don’t you think household chores should be shared by ALL living in the house and not just the fairer members of the family?
Lim Hoo Chon
November 27th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I totally agree with you.