Maid wants $2.5K advance salary; employer wants to know if they’re obliged to give as they’re worried helper might “do something funny with our young kids”

SINGAPORE: An employer of a foreign domestic helper took to social media asking if she was obliged to give her helper an advance on her salary.

In an anonymous post to a Facebook group for domestic helpers, the woman wrote that her maid had been working for her for eight months. “Few days back she wanted to advance her 2.5k. When asked for the reason, the money will be used for the downpayment for her house”, she wrote. She explained that the maid asked for $500 to be deducted from her salary for the next five months to make up for the advance payment.

“Should we as employers be obliged to advance her pay? Also, we are afraid if we don’t she would do something funny with our young kids. Appreciate all of your feedback on this matter”, the woman wrote, asking others in the group for advice.

On the Manpower Ministry (MOM) website, under allowable salary deductions was the following: “For recovering advances, loans, overpaid salary or unearned employment benefits.

• • For advances, your employer can deduct your salary in instalments spread over not more than 12 months. Each instalment should not exceed 25% of your salary for the salary period.
  • For loans, your employer can deduct your salary in instalments. Each instalment should not exceed 25% of your salary for the salary period.
  • For overpaid salary and unearned employment benefits, your employer can recover the full amount from you”

Netizens who commented on the post wrote that while it was common for helpers to ask their employers for loans, the latter was not obliged in any way.

Here’s what they said:

Earlier this month, another employer who recently hired a helper from Hong Kong took to social media to share concerns about whether her maid would be able to adjust to life here.

In an anonymous post to a Facebook group for domestic helpers, the employer wrote that the maid she was considering hiring worked in Hong Kong for 6 years. “I am considering hiring an ex-Hong Kong helper. She was there for 6 years. Used to weekly off days and had high salary of $900. I am concerned about her adjusting to Singapore. Can anyone share their experience with an ex-Hong Kong helper?” she asked.

In the comments section, other helpers and employers had various responses. One said that most helpers in Hong Kong did not stay with their employers, so they needed to fork out a portion of their salary for rental and food. Others said that a basic pay of $900 was indeed high unless the helper was experienced. A helper said that she worked in Hong Kong previously and urged the employer to find out the maid’s background as many helpers she knew borrowed money from banks in Hong Kong and would run to other countries.

Helper who was in Hong Kong for 6 years wants weekly days off and a “high salary of $900” says employer who wonders if maid can adjust to SG life