Employing a maid in Singapore

Employing a maid in Singapore

since i was rather free during the dec holiday, i went with mummy and maid to the maid agency to renew her passport and to transfer her ownership from him to me.... was shock to hear that the renewal of the maid's passport will cost the maid (not the employer) $300+ and it will only last for 2 more years.... 

why is it so expensive???? even in Singapore, the cost of making a passport is only $70 for 5 years lo.... the employee there told us that the fee includes administrative charges...and if i want to save $$$ on behalf of the maid, i can actually bring the maid to the indonesia embassy and do it on my own at a reduced price. 


so i told mummy that since she's not working this dec, why dun she just bring the maid down to do it....and guess what's the price.... it's only $35 and valid for another 5 years....


check out the link: 
http://www.kbrisingapura.com/maid_renewal.php?lang=eng


these maid's agencies really is 'kill people put fire' one lo.... they really have the heart the earn the maid's one month salary just to help them renew passport... =S...somemore valid for less than half the actual number of years lo... $300 for 2 years vs $35 for 5 years....so employers, do your maid a favour, just bring them direct to the Indonesian embassy if there's a need to renew the maid's passport...DON'T DO IT THRU THE MAID'S AGENCIES...... 

forum on renewing maid's passport at the embassy itself:
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2008/02/renewing-maids-work-permit-and-passport.html 



then, i went online and found out that actually i can do the transfer of maid's ownership by myself without having to go through the agency also.... =)....  


as i m a first time employer, i have to sign up for an online Employers' Orientation Program at $30 with Singapore Polytechnic. Quite simple and brainless, just some powerpoint slides + videos and a 10 questions test at the end of the so called program.... took less than an hour to clear... 


then have to login to WP online (web portal linked under Ministry of Manpower) with singpass to apply for the transfer / renewal of the work permit at $20


then have to get the security bond and insurance for the maid. The security bond is a $5000 deposit with Ministry of Manpower which will be confiscated if employers did not do what is required as stated in
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/passes-visas/work-permit-fw/before-you-apply/Pages/security-bond.aspx


but then, there's a 'cheaper' way out of this $5000 is to buy an insurance that covers the security bond and the maid's insurance for 26 months at http://www.anda.com.sg/prg/PackPrem.asp... cost me $321 inclusive of GST


the issue of the work permit cost another $20... so for less than $400, i cleared the transfer.... which a maid agency would have charged me $70 (for the $40 i paid for application and issuing of permit permit) and at the same time, charge the maid 2-3 months of her salary...basically, they are just out to earn the maids' money la.. =S