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Dear readers, here's a checklist for hiring a domestic helper in Singapore.
Our family used to have a helper who is here mainly to help take care of my elderly father-in-law and has since left us for another employer in 2016.
And here are the things that we've done and prepared for the entire hiring process. Hope it can give some pointers when you hire a helper one day. Cheers!
1. Financial Obligations: Initial deposit [3-6 months of maid's pay (which is about $400 per month), for a 2-year contract], maid's monthly pay, pocketmoney, Sunday off-day pay, (note the mode of these payments: cash, maid's bank account, or remittance back to her own country), maid's government levy, insurance, security bond/deposit, medical/dental cost (we paid for her $500/++ wisdom tooth removal and bi-yearly body checkup), daily food and lodging (electricity/water) expenses, toiletries and personal consumables expenses (my first maid came with only a piece of soap for toiletries) and money set aside for her one-way air ticket home. My total monthly cost of having a maid can easily reach $1000. Very much like owning a car in Singapore.
2. Proper Sleeping/Resting Area: Well-ventilated room with beddings, pillow, blanket.
3. Three Meals A Day: Home-cooked (maid buys groceries and cook), takeaway, delivery, a meal at the food court, etc. Eating utensils: Plate, bowl, cup, fork, spoon, water bottle.
4. Basic Toiletries: Towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair/facial/body wash, menstrual pads, etc.
5. House Rules and Home Safety and Hygiene:
- Daily Working Schedule: Write or print out a working schedule from Mondays to Fridays stating the working and resting hours, the job to be done, e.g. sweep floor everyday at 4pm, so that she knows what to do everyday and what are your expectations of her.
- Emergency numbers to call: when to call who, how to use house phone or handphone, numbers to call (your number, relatives', doctor, ambulance, etc.
- Locking and closing of main doors and all window grilles at all times (prepare extra set of keys for her).
- No stepping of low stools while hanging out the laundry and while cleaning windows in high-rise flats.
- No wastage of food, electricity and water, especially in Singapore where everything is relatively expensive.
- Practice proper hygiene while preparing food, e.g. wash hands before handling food. Prevent spreading of germs or diseases, e.g. cover mouth or turn away when coughing or sneezing.
6. Other Orientation:
- Teaching the helper to use household appliances and electronic gadgets e.g. kitchen tools like can-opener, blender and special knives. Oven, stove, cooker hood, microwave oven, hot pot, water-heater, coffee machine, iron and ironing board, vacuum-cleaner, mopping equipment, air-conditioner, air purifier, TV, radio,
- Elderly care and childcare rules, expectations and work scope e.g. cooking preferences (less oil, salt, sugar), bathing, dressing and taking elderly or child to nearby park/playground, picking child up from school, etc.
- Communication with elderly and administering medications/pills, daily injections, simple medical tests (blood glucose test), and skin/wound care etc. Note: There is a one-day brief elderly-care course for the main caregiver or maid conducted at the hospitals.
- Introduce and explain important social or cultural practices in Singapore and bring her around the neighbourhood so that she can familiarise herself with the new culture and surroundings.
- It will be good to ask about her family or background to know her better and to treat her with respect so as to maintain a good employer-employee relationship. Have as much patience as you can since she is new to both your home and your country. Give her ample time to ease in.