What Are The Challenges Of Hiring Domestic Helpers In Singapore

One advantage that living in Singapore offers is affordable domestic help. Today, many households employ a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) in Singapore. With FDWs helping with household chores and caring for our young and elderly, more Singaporeans are able to join the workforce, knowing that our homes are well taken care of while we are at work.

The challenge here is to find a competent, reliable and trustworthy foreign domestic helper in Singapore. However, it is not easy at all.

First of all, you must decide if you want a Filipino, Indonesia, Vietnamese or Myanmar maid. Myanmar maids are slowly gaining popularity in Singapore. As the culture in Singapore and Myanmar is vastly different, Myanmar maids usually take a longer period to settle down in Singapore. They generally speak some elementary English and can be very humble and hardworking workers.

Challenges of Hiring an FDW

Be prepared to face the challenges of an FDW who may:

• Not be able to speak or understand your language easily. Her spoken English may not meet your expectations
• Not be able to care for your loved ones or to clean your home according to your expectations
• Need constant supervision and coaching
• Have difficulty adjusting to living and working in a new environment
• Have a different way of life, beliefs and customs. 

Choosing a FDW

Once you have decided to employ an FDW, think through your selection criteria carefully. Focus on the primary duties you want your FDW to fulfil and select an FDW with the skills and qualities to perform those duties. For example: Caring for children - Look for an FDW who:

• Likes children
• Is energetic and patient
• Is pleasant and willing to learn
• Has experience caring for children
• Has the ability to communicate with your children

Caring for the Elderly or Disabled, The FDW should:

• Be physically strong if the family member needs assistance to move around
• Be patient and sensitive

• Be willing to learn
• Have experience in looking after the invalid, disabled or elderly
• Have the ability to communicate in a language the family member is familiar with

A good domestic helper eases our responsibilities at home, but if handled improperly, she could be a time-bomb too.  We need to know what to expect from each other and how to deal with the daily conflicts.