SINGAPORE: An employer going overseas took to social media asking others for advice on how much allowance she should give her helper.
In an anonymous post to a support group for domestic helpers and employers alike, the woman wrote: “I’m going overseas, how much allowance per day I should give my helper so she can buy her lunch and dinner while I’m away”.
In her post, the employer also had another question. She said that her maid had been working for the family for three months and was doing a great job. Since the year-end was approaching, the employer asked if she should give her helper the option of a bonus payment or a holiday trip.
A netizens who commented on her post said, “The best thing to do is buy her foods and groceries before leaving and make sure that its more than enough until you return home it’s more safe for her no need to go out and buy and to avoid unnecessary things to happen like maybe she will talk to strangers or bad people outside.And for the question number 2 some employers they just give Christmas present when the year ends but if you are generous enough and want to appreciate her being good maybe you can consider giving her a bonus:”.
Another netizen suggested that the employer could “buy groceries before leaving for her while you’re away and some money in case there’s emergency $50-$100 depending how long you will be overseas. 2.you can talk to her,is best ask her whether she wants to go home or other things.is all up to you,follow what’s your heart tell you”.
Earlier this year, a domestic helper took to social media asking if the money her employers had given her when they went on holiday was enough. In an anonymous post to a support group for domestic helpers and employers alike, the maid wrote that her employers went back to their home country for about two months. During this time, they left her home alone. “My emp go back to they are (sic) country about 2 months and they only gave me $100 for a month to buy food. I want to know is that enought with $100?” the maid asked.
In another case, a different foreign domestic helper who refused to stay at home alone while her employers went overseas got to go on her own holiday as well. In an anonymous post to Facebook page FDW in Singapore (working conditions forum), the maid’s employer wrote that she and her family had planned to go overseas on a short family trip. However, she added that her helper did not want to stay in their house alone so “we will treat her to a holiday at a place of her interest somewhere else”. She also wrote that she would be giving her maid paid leave and covering the cost of her flight tickets as well. “Any idea if we should also cover her accommodation? This is on top of her fully paid home leave which we have already approved. What is your arrangement for helper when employer goes overseas for holiday?” the woman asked netizens in her post. /TISG