Ready Reckoner - CHECKLIST of instructions to be given to FDW

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Mail us: Clickmaidsg@gmail.com

Click us: www.clickmaid.com.sg

Reach us: 94842726

CLICK EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ( Lic No 14C7030). 

______________________________________________________________________

To prepare a checklist is another important step in Maid hiring. It is a mundane chore nevertheless to be done every time a maid arrives home. To make your life easy, I have come up with a checklist which you can print and use as reference and can add points to make it easier than to rake your brains to prepare one fresh.

Though the SIP would have covered superficially on many safety related aspects. It is our responsibility as an employer to brief the FDW about all things at home and what is expected out of her. Set the expectations clear and right from day one to avoid any disappointments or bitterness on both sides. The below list should help

BASIC AMENITIES: It is a good practice to already keep the following things ready for the FDW working for you.

1. Room with proper ventilation and minimum a ceiling fan
2. A hanger or cupboard for her to store her belongings 
3. A proper bed with bedding, pillow and a blanket
4. Toiletries - brush, paste, body soap, washing soap, sanitary napkin, a small hand towel  (they might have many of these from home - check and provide)
5. A plate, spoon, glass, water bottle etc
6. Help her purchase a phone card - to be deducted from maid salary
7. Bank account to send money back home

If you have hired the maid for a particular task other than household chores like taking care of infants, elders differently-abled etc.

• Prepare a list of things to do about child care/elder care/differently-abled care
• How to handle, maintain, support and care to be instructed
• All special instructions, schedules to be briefed

HOME/ROOMS: Give her a little tour of your household to show her whats what of the home and when and how things should be done

• Show her all the rooms and the times to enter and clean
• Places to enter and not enter without permission to be explained clearly
• Time to clean different things and at what time to start cleaning
• How to prepare the bed, clean and maintain
• List of things to be done per room and a calendar schedule for the same
• Provide broom, mop etc and if possible explain once how it is done - just in case you prefer it done in a particular way or the maid is doing it wrong or differently
• How to handle vertical surfaces and cleaning. Handling glass and other fragile items, decoratives, chandeliers and ornaments
• Where to trash and how to clear trash and dispose 

FDW Room maintenance: To be cleaned regularly and kept neat and clean. 

KITCHEN: This is the sanctum-sanctorum of any household and it always needs to be maintained well

• Things neatly stored in air-tight containers - a place for a thing and a thing in its place so that the kitchen looks familiar to all
• Stock taking - list to replenish exhausted ingredients, meat & poultry - daily, weekly, monthly 
• Usage of apron/gloves etc in case washing, stain removal etc
• Keeping things clean and aerated - esp fruits, vegetables and perishables
• How to use/clean electrical equipment - kettle, oven, fridge, mixer/grinder 
• How to wash utensils, where to store, handling porcelain and glass ware
• How to use the tap, avoid clogging of the sink hole
• Trash can affixed with trash bags, liners and disposing trash via the chute
• Waste management - avoild cooking more or cooking less. Refregirating/storing tips 

TOILET USAGE/CLEANING: Show her the toilet for her to use as many come from villages and are not new to modern settings

• Show her the way to use the shower, faucet, flush and the water heater
• Explain in detail how to use the washing liquids, phenol, acids etc

LAUNDRY AND IRONING: This is another important aspect of the daily routine for a maid at home

• Demonstrate how to use the washing machine
• What detergents and soaps to be used 
• Demarcation of things to be washed in machine and by hand. Separating  colored clothes and whites
• Instructions on washing of baby clothes, inner garments, shoes & stockings, etc
• Safety instructions while ironing. How to iron at what temperate - cottons, linens, baby clothing etc

FDW laundry Her personal hygiene is another key aspect to consider while she is at work in your household

• Can the washing machine be used for her personal clothes, or show the places where the clothes need to be washed by hand. 
• A place to dry her clothes, how to hang, safety precautions etc
• Can the iron be used for her personal clothes?

FOOD AND BEVERAGE:  Prepare a time-table of when things should be ready daily

• Breakfast, lunch, tea with snacks, drinks and dinner  - to be explicitly explained in detail about all your requirements
• Daily menu would be an ideal way to keep it stress free and plan everything
• Prepare and pack lunches for the school going kids, office going adults 
• Allergies if any to be instructed
• Preparation methods, spice/sugar/salt/oil levels to be indicated
• Regional preferences may need extra detailing and training

PERSONAL GROOMING: Personal grooming tips are also important and our responsibility to help the maid 

• Daily wake up time, eating times, and sleeping time to be strictly followed
• Oral hygiene
• Displine - how, when, where and what to talk to family members
• Handling phone calls - etiquette, noting down name and number
• Handling strangers, regular vendors etc.
• Shopping tips
• Handling public transport -
• General presentation - what to wear and what not to
• Skin care, handling extreme weather conditions 
• Treating the guests at home

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES: Timely maintenance is key to keep to successful work culture. Prepare the daily/weekly/Monthly/yearly maintenance schedules of all things involved in your household. Followup when needed and get it done sooner or later

FIRST AID: It is always a good idea to keep a first aid kit at home for any unexpected accidents,nicks and cuts in kitchen or while cleaning do happen at times

EMERGENCY CONTACT/INFO: Inform the FDW to call you first at all times, keep the contact list displayed prominently in your main hall for everyone to see

SAFETY AND PROTECTION: Better safe than sorry, instructions on all the safety precautions to be taken, and protect from early damage is key. Therefore, cover all details possible time to time to protect your household

INFANT CARE: This is the most crucial and important part of the maid work

• Be along with her mentor/train her in case of a fresher and understand their practices and care thoroughly before completely transferring control to the baby
• Preparation of baby food to be supervised, the right food, timing, portion size, freshness, temperature, etc
• Medicines, the right dosage to administer at the right times
• Bathing procedure, clothing etc 
• Lunch boxes to be cleaned immediately after the kid returns home. Inform employer if kids eating habits are changing or kid not eating properly etc.
• Applying anything on the face or skin (religious, traditional practices) to be clarified and briefed

ELDERY/DIFFERENTLY-ABLED CARE: They are as good as the infant only that they can communicate in many cases

• Timing, diet schedules and patterns
• Food preferences, do and don'ts, allergies etc
• Giving bath, when, how etc
• Massages - foot, leg, head or whole body (clear instructions)
• Medicines - dosage, timing 
• Emergency contact list

PS: This is only a guideline and can vary from one household to another. It can easily take more than a month to implement, regularize, streamline all the above. 

• Have patience and do not lose your cool at any cost
• Do not lose hope - repeat a few more times if it takes to get it right
• Slow and steady progress will last for long - Make maid's work a pleasure not pressure
• Above all be positive and keep smiling! 

Please leave a comment if we have left out anything or if you would like to know more.. it will be our pleasure to reply

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Chronicles of Click Maid - True stories of hiring Indian maids in Singapore

Click and pick, we deliver them quick

Mail us: Clickmaidsg@gmail.com

Click us: www.clickmaid.com.sg

Reach us: 94842726

CLICK EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ( Lic No 14C7030). 

______________________________________________________________________

Here are experiences that we would like to share with you only to create awareness, help understand the challenges faced by all parties involved - some funny, some serious etc. Whatever be the case, it only enriches you better in terms of expectations and experience while hiring an FDW. There won't be any direct references and no names are used

CASE 1: LAST MINUTE DROP OUT

An employer contacted agency for a maid urgently to take care of household chores and infant care. Agency was prompt in helping with the initial screening and interview and a maid was selected. The IPA was successfully processed, security bond and flight ticket were all booked in quick succession. The maid was to travel from her home town to another city by an overnight train to catch a flight to SG. The employer and the agency were in constant touch with the maid. The maid arrives at the destination station and calls the agent to inform that the passport has been stolen along with the wallet. The agent reports to the agency, the agency in turn reports it to the employer and all hell breaks loose. The maid is incommunicado after that and the agent is frantically trying to reach her.
NEXT STEPS

Employer:  Is frustrated as the whole plan around the maid is collapsed. Had to rework the whole home care schedule as it would take more time to find another suitable maid. Alternate arrangements were made (extend mother's stay to take care of the infant for a month more) 

FDW: The maid will have to file a lost passport case and obtain an FIR from a local police station and re-apply for a passport. A fresh passport within 7 days in case of TATKAL or within a month will be issued

A few days pass...

Agency: Gets a call after a week to be informed that a new passport has been issued. To their shock and surprise they find out it is the same passport copy that's been sent back. There is no way a passport office re-issues a passport with the same number and expiry for lost passports. Issuing a duplicate passport is unheard of. Informs the same to the employer who is okay to hire the same maid and the whole process is repeated and the maid successfully starts work 

A typical sign of last minute freak out of the maid or some major issue back home. We will never know and till date the maid has maintained that the passport was really lost and was re-issued

LEARNING: No amount of preparation is good enough until the maid reaches the employer home. We can only hope all that begins well, ends well and also be prepared for adversities at any stage.  Plan way ahead or always have a backup plan. There is no backup plan for bad luck :)

More to come....

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CLICK MAID AGENCY - Advantages of home-based services

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Mail us: Clickmaidsg@gmail.com

Click us: www.clickmaid.com.sg

Reach us: 94842726

CLICK EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ( Lic No 14C7030). 

______________________________________________________________________

Click Maid-Advantages of home-based services 

Choosing/chasing a maid agency is time consuming for various reasons. Instead, the maid agency comes to you and serves you the way you like it - isn't that wow!

Yes, home-based services are comfortable in many ways and can save you a lot of time, effort and money in the process. Before going through the points in detail let us answer questions

How do I know you are genuine/Legit? All agencies are supposed to list their license number and registration number. You can always cross-check in the MoM EA directory online if the licensee is still in active business

What is the time taken for the whole process? Irrespective of it being home-based or agency-based service, the time taken for In Principal Approval (IPA) depends on various factors like your residential status, salary, house size. It varies anything between 1 hour - 1 week. Post which it is the time taken for the maid to arrive. Some FDWs are available almost immediately and some take their time but inform the EA and employer on when they would be available to start work

The fees might be high for such service? Absolutely not, the total package cost is competitive in the market and in fact lesser than many agencies. Also we do not charge the maid loan upfront, you pay the loan amounts over two months from the salary to be paid

What does the package comprise?Following are the breakup of the fees

1) Total service fee paid to the agency - comprises of documentation, transportation and others

2) Fee to apply for IPA

3) The medical test fee

4) SIP course fee

5) Issuance of WP fee

How it works? The whole process works from the comfort of your home online. If you visit our website and also keep track of your emails the work will be done much faster

1. Visit www.clickmaid.com.sg and use the chat feature or write an email to clickmaidsg@gmail.com or use the android app clickmaid https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bnc.clickmaid to send in an inquiry
2. Promptly you get a response with the fee structure (New and Exp. FDW) , job requirement sheet, authorization form, Employer details form. We would be happy to send you our sample contract form on request 
3. If you are convinced with the fee structure. Send us the job scope sheet to help us find the right FDW or  browse our website. Check the various profiles from the website and shortlist 3 of them and send back the names on email
4. If you are first time employee, you need to complete the EOP program online. It takes about 4 hours and S$40 to complete the course online, finish and  download the certificate and forward to us
5. Based on all parties availability, telecon interviews would be set up with the employer and FDW. On successful selection of a candidate, confirm with the EA
6. Send in the signed authorization form - to authorize the EA to act on your behalf to employ a EA - this is a mandatory step
7. Send in the employer details word file fully filled up to apply for the IPA - important to process 
8. After approval of IPA - an email with the copy of the employer copy of the IPA would be sent
9. At this juncture, you will make the first advance payment of S$500 to the agency bank account
10. Almost immediately, the security bond will be applied and collected the same evening at 6:30 pm Singapore time
11. Email with security bond sent to the employer for safe keeping
12. FDW's flight ticket booked on the agreed date and will be sent to the employer for information
13. The IPA, security bond and flight ticket would be sent to the FDW
14. The FDW will be picked up from the airport and if it is early in the morning both the medical test and Settling in Program (SIP) will be completed and maid dropped at employer's home in the evening - SIP is only for first time maids, experienced maids will be dropped back home after medical is done
15. The medical report of the FDW will be forwarded to the employer for safe keeping
16. The EA personnel will come home to get the due signatures on various contractual agreements, fee receipts etc
17. Within 14 days of maid arrival an appointment for - Thumbprint/WP card issuance will be fixed in consultation with the employer. The maid will be picked up and dropped back (duration: 3-4 hours)
18. The process is complete here and the rest of the payment to be made to EA 

Also remember  - points below are not covered in the package but guidance provided

1) To submit the GIRO to CPF office for the levy payments to happen seamlessly

2) To do medical check-ups every 6 months for the FDW
3) A one time administrative charge of S$100 in case a replacement is given within 6 months

LEAVE US A COMMENT BELOW IN CASE YOU NEED MORE CLARITY ON SOMETHING. We will be happy to reply

How to choose an Indian Maid Agency in Singapore

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Mail us: Clickmaidsg@gmail.com

Click us: www.clickmaid.com.sg

Reach us: 94842726

CLICK EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ( Lic No 14C7030). 

______________________________________________________________________

How to choose an Indian Maid Agency in Singapore

To even think about it, will send your mind into a tizzy. There are more than 1200 registered employment/maid agencies in Singapore.Each one has its own merits and package themselves differently in order to attract potential customers. There will be word-of-mouth recommendations from a colleague or neighbor about a particular agency. All that helps! 

Steps in identifying the right maid agency

Search engine results: Google for "Indian maid agency in Singapore" you will most probably get the sites with maximum counter hits listed on top (does not necessarily mean ranking or rating) or by search engine optimization SEO. Look at their websites and understand what they are offering and how they have laid it out."First impression is the best impression"- to check if they have any testimonials on their page would give you a fair idea of customer satisfaction scores. Look for their USP or differentiating factor before selecting one

MoM Directory: One can always logon to MoM and check about every maid agency that you would like to check upon. The following details can be found available there: License, demerit points, placement record/history, retention rate etc. There are also benchmarks and scores listed to help shortlist
Testimonials: Testimonials are a good yardstick of how they fared with the clients. You can get an idea of customer satisfaction and how they feel about the agency to an extent
No. of Maids: Check if the profiles listed on the website are latest and are up to date. Few or no profiles or non-availability of maids is an indicator for a not so active agency

Fees for maid placement:. Here again you will realize that each one has packaged it differently. A split of costs must be listed out as per MoM rule and clear explanation of what it is charged for. Apart from the mandatory expenses, an agency also charges service fee for which they give various benefits

Response rate: Your first reply back to your inquiry email from any agency is a good indicator of their service orientation. The way you are handled over the phone etc will help you understand the quality of the agency 

No hidden costs: Ensure you are not paying a penny more than agreed. Times agencies list only a few and the rest is collected on a "piece-meal" basis from the customer fleecing them and making it a bad experience
Contract: Ask for a contract copy. read and clear everything upfront. All policies, agreements, resolutions, reimbursements must be listed in there. To avoid misunderstanding or mis-interpretations, get it clarified then and there. A good/clear documented contract is what saves you when in trouble. When you read the contract and sign, you are to abide by it strictly
End-to-end services: From welcoming you at the office till the day the FDW arrives must be professionally handled. Proper SoPs ensure that the experience before hiring till the FDW arrives at home is smooth

Replacements: An agency giving umpteen number of replacements is not be considered superior. If you replace too often, it either shows inability in management by the employer or plain bad luck with the helpers. Whatever be the case, MoM closely monitors the number of FDWs you replace in a year, and if it is above 4 you may not get approval for the next FDW. Highlighting multiple replacements is a fad, replacements involve administrative expenses and a lot of time and mental tension. Try to avoid it as much as possible. "A known devil is always better than an unknown angel". also read

http://clickmaidsg.blogspot.in/2016/02/difficulties-faced-by-employers-while.html

Process Steps - hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW)

Though this might vary from agency to agency, I have listed down the process steps that are involved in hiring a FDW. An ideal agency would  give you peace of mind and comfort to work with. If you are first time employer, this would be very helpful

Before approaching any maid agency, understand a fact that an agency is only an intermediary that facilitates dialogue, helps with processes and delivers the FDW home

EMPLOYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FDW AT ALL TIMES - A helper is a responsibility and never a liability

1. Contact  agency either by phone or go directly to the agency office 
2. Complete the EOP - Employer orientation program if you are a first time employee
   
3. Get all the important information, fee structure, contract and forms : Fill up employer job requirements/scope and employer details to apply for the IPA
4.  Shortlist up to 3 profiles either from the website or in person at the EA office. Get interviews arranged based on availability. Ask relevant and scenario-based questions to elicit answers from the helper
5. Remuneration and benefits of the FDW to be agreed upon,contracts to be signed between the EA, employer and the FDW
6. Inform the tentative joining date of the selected candidate to the agency
7. In principal approval of WP, security bond (check with the agencies on several packages available with the insurance companies, choose what suits you best), flight ticket for the helper to be taken care by the agency. All these  to be sent time-to-time to employers
8. On the helper arrival date, FDW is picked up by the agency from the airport, medical test could be done along with SIP - Settling in Program (only for new FDW) the same day and helper be dropped  at home of the employer in the evening. Please note SIP should be done within the first 3 days of maid arrival and medical within 14 days
9. Within 14 days of FDW arrival, issuance date fixed for WP card to be issued (thumb print). FDW needs to be picked-up from employer home to go to MoM center and back (~3 hours)
   
10. Remember to fill the GIRO form and submit at the CPF office to facilitate levy payment. Levy for normal FDW is S$265/- per month ie., S$8.72/- per day. Concessional rates apply only to Singapore Citizens with young children or old age people.
    
11. A 6-month medical test for the FDW is mandatory and do keep reminders for the same
    

Visit us at www.clickmaid.com.sg for all your India FDW needs... it is always a pleasure to serve you!

LEAVE US A COMMENT BELOW IN CASE YOU NEED MORE CLARITY ON SOMETHING. We will be happy to reply

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Difficulties faced by Employers while hiring Indian FDWs in Singapore

Click and pick, we deliver them quick

Mail us: Clickmaidsg@gmail.com

Click us: www.clickmaid.com.sg

Reach us: 94842726

CLICK EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ( Lic No 14C7030). 

______________________________________________________________________

Being an employment agency specializing in Foreign Domestic Worker recruitment is very testing and challenging at all times. Right from the expectation of the client till the availability of a right candidate is many a time a tough ask.

After your initial prep through the EOP program, if you have made a decision to hire a maid; start with a mentality that "a maid is like an extended member of my family". I would treat her like I would treat any other family member". Start with a positive frame of mind and it will be a smooth sail.

With all the varied experiences with the maids and employers alike, I have listed some of the common issues faced and how to handle them

Difficulties faced by Employers

No show after selection: A common problem is that the maid at the last minute has a change of mind and decides not to travel. This could be because of influences from several external forces like family (emotional blackmail), homesickness, fear of foreign work conditions, past experiences narrated by someone etc.
Solution: First impression is the best impression. The responsibility of gaining the maid's confidence lies on both the employer and the emp. agency. Talk to the maid nicely, promise to keep her good, and put that smile in your talk

Bad attitude of the FDW: Some maids are very smart (esp. exp maids) know how to handle the employers tactfully. They promise good work over the phone during interview and work quite opposite when employed.
Solution: Interview is key, Do not ask cliched questions (do you know to cook, do you take care of children, etc) Instead give them scenarios and find out how they respond (e.g., there is a fire at home, how will you react, the baby choked on something, how will you handle it when we are not around etc.)

Work related issues: Would have mentioned can do all sorts of work, but would end up doing less or none stating some health issues (dust allergies, back pain etc.)
Solution: Right from day one, the ground rules to be clearly set. Prepare a simple list of things to be done daily, weekly, monthly etc (don't scare them with a huge list). The routine per day to be fixed and stick to it (don't overwork the maid right from day one). Give them the proper tool to complete the task (glove to clean toilets, long broom for ceilings etc.)

Adaptability issues: Your style of cooking and that of  the maid could be of north and south. Even a simple curd rice could be prepared differently by you. Clients expect maids to be work ready from day1
Solution: Take a couple of days to practically demonstrate the way you do it. You might also want to sample her style and probably you might like it better than your style sometimes. Keep in mind that cooking style change takes time

Threats/absconding: Times, the maid would say nothing for the fear of being abused and would find excuses to go back home (Common excuses: mother passed away, husband met with an accident, children are ill) confirm if it is genuine and there  are a few who would simply abscond. If brave, they would retaliate and if weak in mind - threaten to fast unto death/commit suicide

Solution: Two-way dialogue is very important. Hear what the problem is and break it down to simple pieces and solve it. Give them enough time to relax if they feel overworked, if it is some problem else (back home) that's bothering them, try and help them if possible which is within your comfort range. 

If you are a new employer give minimum a month to see if it really works. "Haste makes waste" do not jump to conclusions or take sporadic decisions. Time is a healer and logical thinking  "putting yourself in the others' shoe" always works.  If all things fail, you can always contact the agency to find out ways to tackle problems. We would be more than willing to help

IF ALL EFFORTS FAIL, GO FOR A REPLACEMENT!

Difficulties faced by FDWs

Ill treatment:A first step towards disastrous maid experience. Employers get an instant dislike overnight and go to any extent to make sure she is out of the house the next day. They get so disappointed having spent enough money and hurl abuses and vent out their anger at her. Putting them down constantly for bad work done
Solution: You made a conscious decision to hire a particular maid and she is your total responsibility from the day she arrives till she leaves back to her hometown. Any form of ill-treatment is a no-no. There should be at least a week's time given for the maid to understand the work and constructive criticism is the key to successful maid-employer relationship. REMEMBER: REPATRIATING THE MAID IS EMPLOYERS' RESPONSIBILITY IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO DECIDES TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT

Lack of basic respect/courtesy: Maids are not given the respect they deserve. They think that the belong to the less-privileged category and do not deserve a better treatment.  In some cases, they are not even spoken to like humans and treated worse than animals.
Solution: Dignity of labor, discrimination against poor comes to play. Treat the maid with respect and you will get 200% back. Be mindful that ill-treatment is a serious criminal/punishable offense

Poor living conditions: Not providing her personal space for even for a dress change is a sad reality in many cases  serving few-days old food, cold food, stale food. Maids are made to sleep in some corner of the house. No proper sanitation and toilet facilities are some common causes of concern.
Solution: Do not feed the maid what you would not eat yourself. Do not let her live in a place where you wouldn't stay. Provide the basic amenities and  understand that the lack of proper sanitation is only going to backfire on your health

Irregularity in payments/deductions: Many feel that the maids don't deserve the amount paid. They find a reason or excuse to deduct something. Some are stingy when it comes to even letting go of a few dollars (maid purchased a small item while shopping - they make sure that is deducted from their salary). A pay cut for some work not done or done badly
Solution: The maid has traveled leaving everything behind to work hard for those dollars. Don't deprive her of it, always pay when its due/on time (they have more commitments than us). Do not deduct unless it is unavoidable and if she is willing - A few dollars less is not going to hurt, a good gesture from you will go a long way

Verbal/mental/physical abuse: Very prevalent in households is verbal abuse - bad mouthing a maid constantly or mental abuse - forcing the maid to such humiliating heights leaves a huge scar. They are traumatized beyond repair and have led to even deaths. There have been many un-reported case of physical abuse within and the maid tries to leave or runaway though her work has been good
Solution: MoM has strict policies around this. Big fines and even imprisonment for crimes against FDWs. All it takes is one complaint from the FDW

Cultural differences, life style changes, new work ways are all new to a first time maid and even for a few experienced ones. Make sure that the maid feels protected and comfortable at all times. Ensure her safety and well-being and gratitude is always paid back in kind. There are more than the above listed challenges/difficulties and hope this helps you to be alert and prepared for a "good maid experience" if not perfect.

Thankyou!


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