Advantages of Hiring an Indonesian Maid in Singapore and Tips for Success
Why We Decided to Hire an Indonesian Maid in Singapore
Our family has been living in Singapore for almost five years now, and in late July 2023, we decided to hire a live-in Indonesian maid. It’s been nearly five months since she joined us, and looking back, I can confidently say, “This was the right decision!” 😄
Honestly, the idea of living with a foreign maid initially felt unimaginable. While I was intrigued, I was also overwhelmed by the uncertainties—how would the hiring process work? Where should I even start? It all seemed so confusing and daunting 💦.
Currently, we have two young children, aged 3 and 4, and our maid primarily helps with cooking and babysitting 🍳👶. Her support has truly been a game-changer in our daily lives! Balancing childcare and household chores used to be incredibly challenging, but having her around has made everything so much easier ✨.
At first, I was skeptical—”Will hiring a maid really make our lives easier?” But now, she has become an integral part of our routine, and our days run much more smoothly 👍.
In this blog, I’ll share my experiences, including what it’s like to hire a maid, the steps involved, and the benefits we’ve seen. I hope this will serve as a helpful guide for anyone considering hiring a maid in Singapore 😊!
Table of Contents
Why We Decided to Hire a Maid
After living in Singapore for nearly five years, my husband’s work schedule became increasingly demanding, with frequent business trips 📅. With him no longer available to share childcare responsibilities, I realized I couldn’t manage everything on my own. So, I decided to hire a local Filipino babysitter 👩👧👦.
At first, I was hesitant—my English isn’t great, and I felt uneasy about simply agreeing to the rates the babysitter quoted 💸. But once I gave it a try, it turned out to be surprisingly smooth, and life became much more manageable 🎉.
I later found out that the 22 SGD per hour I was paying was lower than the usual rate of 25–30 SGD per hour, but I was still satisfied 😊. Initially, I hired her for just four hours a day, and even those few hours significantly reduced my household and childcare burden 💪.
Our monthly expenses for the babysitter were about 2,600 SGD, which felt reasonable compared to hiring similar help in my home country. I was quite happy with the arrangement ✨. However, during a casual conversation with a friend from my social circle, I was told, “2,600 SGD is way too much!” 😲
She mentioned that hiring a live-in maid would cost only 900–1,100 SGD per month. I was shocked—“Really?” I thought 🤔. It seemed like I was spending unnecessarily, so I started searching for agencies that could introduce live-in maids 🔍.
Qualities We Looked for in a Maid
Here’s what we prioritized when hiring a maid:
Indonesian nationality
Calm personality
Conversational English skills
We chose an Indonesian maid because they are the most common helpers in Singapore and generally have lower salary expectations than Filipino maids. Indonesians are also known for their loyalty and reliability, with fewer reports of theft or other issues, which gave us peace of mind 😊✨.
We required at least two years of experience working in a foreign household—experience is crucial for building trust. Additionally, being able to communicate in conversational English was non-negotiable. During the interview, we carefully assessed their communication skills 📞.
The most important trait for us, though, was a calm personality. This might sound peculiar, but it was vital for us. Previously, we hired a Filipino nanny who was a bit too talkative, and it didn’t mesh well with our children’s temperament. While chatting can be fun, constant interaction can sometimes feel overwhelming 🧘♀️.
During the hiring process, the agency recommended a quiet, humble candidate, and she turned out to be the perfect fit 💖. Now, our daily life runs smoothly, and our family enjoys a more relaxed and harmonious home environment 😊.
Recommended Agencies for Bilingual Helpers
One significant hurdle when hiring a maid in Singapore is the language barrier. Initially, I thought, “As long as they can speak English, it’ll be fine!” But as I started living with a helper, I realized the importance of understanding subtle nuances—especially when it comes to childcare 💡.
That’s when we found an agency that connects families with bilingual helpers. They offered detailed support in our native language via WhatsApp and email, which gave us a lot of reassurance 😊✨.
What amazed me even more was that their rates were nearly half the cost of other agencies in Singapore! Their office in Indonesia maintained close communication with the helpers, ensuring they were well-prepared for international placements.
Many of their helpers have experience abroad, understand European cultural nuances, and even speak basic native languages. This was incredibly helpful for us 🙌. With a bilingual helper, we found it much easier to communicate our needs, especially regarding the children’s care and meal preparation. This eliminated stress and made life much smoother for our entire family 🏡💖.
Even during the first month, when a few nuances were challenging to communicate, the agency provided prompt support via WhatsApp, including voice translations 📲🔊. This level of assistance was invaluable and made the entire experience seamless.
If you’re worried about language barriers, I highly recommend finding an agency that specializes in bilingual helpers. They’re perfect for families like ours who are unsure about where to start and are looking for reliable, affordable options 😊🌟.
Results of Hiring a Maid: Pros and Cons
After living in Singapore for five years, we recently made the big decision to hire an Indonesian maid! 😊 Looking back, I can confidently say it was one of the best choices we’ve made for our family. Here, I’ll share the pros and cons of hiring a maid based on our experience ✨.
Pros
More Time for Yourself
Having a maid has allowed me to invest time in the things I want to do, even amidst the chaos of parenting. Whether it’s practicing yoga, enjoying a relaxing coffee at a café, or meeting friends for lunch, I’ve been able to carve out some precious moments for myself 🥗🍵.
With two young children, finding this time felt impossible before. Now, I’m grateful every day for the support our maid provides 💖.
Stress-Free Household Chores
The biggest advantage by far is how much easier daily life has become! 😆 The burden of managing household chores and childcare has significantly lessened.
Even on sleepless nights when the kids wake up crying, just knowing our maid can help out gives me a sense of relief and allows me to recharge. She often takes over night duties, which means I can get much-needed rest 🌙💤.
Cons
Cost and Space Requirements
Of course, hiring a maid comes with expenses 💸. Here’s a breakdown of our monthly costs:
Maid’s Salary: SGD 950 (slightly higher for Indonesian transfers)
Food Allowance: SGD 180 (optional if meals are shared with the family, but we provide separate meals)
Levy: SGD 300 (paid to the Singapore government)
Altogether, we spend around SGD 1,400 per month, which is half of what we used to pay for a part-time Filipino nanny (approximately SGD 3,000/month for 4 hours daily).
Additionally, Indonesian maids are trustworthy, and I’ve never had to worry about missing items in the house. Considering the reduced stress and increased quality of life, I think the expense is worth it ✨.
Providing Living Space
Since our maid lives with us, we had to allocate part of our home for her accommodation 🏠. In our case, two maids share a room in our shelter’s two-bedroom space, which sometimes feels a bit cramped 💭.
That said, the improved quality of life for our family makes this tradeoff manageable 👀.
Overdependence on the Maid
One unexpected challenge is that my younger daughter has become quite dependent on the maid. She’s quick to comfort her whenever she cries, which occasionally makes me think, “Is she being spoiled too much?” 😅
However, having the maid around also provides great reassurance, as I know my children are always in good hands. To balance things out, we plan to enroll my younger daughter in infant care soon 📚. This way, we can continue to benefit from the maid’s support while also encouraging my daughter’s independence and growth ✨.
These are the ups and downs we’ve experienced so far. Ultimately, hiring a maid has brought significant positive changes to our family life, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others considering this option! 😊
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I hire a maid with specific skills?
A: Yes, you can select maids skilled in cooking, childcare, or other areas based on your needs.
Q: How do I ensure compatibility with my family?
A: Conduct interviews and ask direct questions about their experience and personality.
Q: What should I do if problems arise?
A: Contact your agency for resolution or request a replacement if necessary.
Q: What is the typical contract period?
A: Most contracts last for two years but can be adjusted based on agreements with the agency.
