shareswizard of 10years and still going strong

More want transfer out of Singapore
By Elizabeth Soh
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20101009/ST_17798250.jpg
A poster at an agency in Lucky Plaza advertises transfers for maids to Hong Kong. There, experienced maids can earn about double their pay here. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

THE 'maid crunch' may get worse, with agencies reporting a recent surge in inquiries from maids here who are hoping to transfer to places like Hong Kong and Taiwan.

As it is, employers here are already finding it more difficult to hire maids after the Philippine authorities recently tightened rules on Filipinos leaving for jobs abroad. The shortfall in supply could worsen with more maids here choosing to leave for other places, instead of renewing their contracts.

While such a trend is not new, maid agencies say they have noticed a surge in such inquiries this year. Of the 10 maid agencies polled by The Straits Times, eight say they have seen a 50 to 70 per cent jump in inquiries from maids in the past six months about transferring to places like Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Said maid agent Agnes Tan, 46: 'Out of the 30 applications I handle each month, about 10 are overseas transfers, compared to fewer than five a month last year.'

Ms Shirley Ng, president of the Association of Employment Agencies Singapore, confirmed such a trend.

Better pay is a key pull factor. An Indonesian or Filipino maid with four to six years of experience can earn $800 in Hong Kong, compared to just $450 here.

With fewer maids heading to Singapore, agencies are also increasingly publicising such transfer services as an alternative source of revenue.

At Lucky Plaza, a sign on the door of one maid agency advertises: 'Quick transfer to Hong Kong, Higher Pay!'

Over at Orchard Plaza, a maid agency has pamphlets on its desk advertising transfers to places like Saudi Arabia, Spain and even Norway.

Maids have to fork out about $2,300 to $3,000 to pay for transfers. Agencies here take a cut of about $300 - roughly the same amount they make bringing in a maid to Singapore.

'The only way we can make money now is to cater to the needs of those already here,' said an agent who declined to be named.

Mrs Marylou Cuneta, 37, is a maid who left for Hong Kong in January after eight years here. She now earns about $900 a month - double what she used to make.

She told The Straits Times: 'I am very happy in my current job - but I know I would not have got it if I didn't work in Singapore first.'

Additional reporting by Teh Joo Lin


THIS IS MY MESSAGE TO SINGAPOREANS.DONT EVER THINK YOUR MONEY TOO BIG..RIDICULOUS.I HAVE HEARD OF CASES(my ex nus classmate) ONE MAID IN CHARGE OF A 6PEOPLE HOUSEHOLD,2STOREY HUDC,think what?pay very big?can even tell me maid dont do, can hire another one.soon, all maids will shun singapore,and only the lousy ones come here.want to have more children, live in bigger house,BE PREPARED TO PAY MORE!!
dont ever take maids for granted
IN HONGKONG,SMALLER HOUSE plus LOWER BIRTH RATE, plus HIGHER pay,who doesnt want?