mingle

We will be moving to KL mid-2012 and would like to know the most reliable way of finding a live-in domestic helper there.
-Is it easy to find someone who is already working there and arrange for an "employer transfer"?
-Where can we find recommended maids (both foreign and local Malaysian)?
-Any good maid agencies to recommend?
-Generally how much would the agency fees cost?
Thanks.

ex reg

Spare 5 mins so I'll reply as if you were asking about Singapore.
The Malayasian contingent can add or change.

Make sure first that you need a maid because if you get the wrong one then life can become difficult.
Do you want a maid to help out generally or to look after kids?

Fillipinas can be very good or very bad.
Generally good english but with their maid network will know all the wrinkles.

Indons english can be difficult but less likely to cause problems, imo.
You may have to input a lot of training no matter what they are supposed to be able to do.

Myanmaese, ditto Indons.

Thais, can't really commentbecause don't know anyone with them.

Malaysians,ditto.

We've had 3 Indons over the last 9 years.
Two were great, one was not good and we repatriated her but she was just acting as a maid to get out of Indon and away from marriage which had gone wrong.

The one we have currently is a really hard worker although quite stubborn about things.
She doesn't understand money and her family want want want. We try to advise but it's her decision, supposedly her name is on the deeds for the land and the house but who knows.
When she eventually returns home I suspect she will not have any money saved of her own. Nice person.

The first Indon we had was similar to begin with but the missus did a lot of input on saving and marketing and cooking and this maid really took it all on board.
She returned to Indon to get married but got fed up and took a job in HK where she made a lot more than Singapore and the family in HK she was working for took her back to Canada with them.
She still keeps in touch with us regularly.

We've had neighbours and friends who have had Fillipinas and they were OK for a while and then deteriorated with local 'boyfriends' and staying out overnight etc etc. Of course they have a life to live but also a job to do and a balance must be struck, eventually the scales came down on the wrong side.

Employing a maid is a minefield so make sure you know your own mind about requirements etc.

Good luck.

ajw

Most of the expats here have Filipino maids. If you go for a transfer, the going rate is between 1200 - 1600rm per month with a lot being paid at the higher end of that scale. If you arrange through an agency, you can expect to pay at the lower end but expect to pay fees of between 5000 - 7000rm

Indonesia has had a ban in place on sending maids to Malaysia for two years. It was supposedly lifted early this year but that is in doubt bc of disagreement between Indonesia and Malaysia on the working conditions imposed on the maids (plenty of abuse going on).

Cambodia currently has a ban in place on sending maids to to Malaysia for similar reasons.

These bans have pushed up the salaries of the Filipino maids accordingly.

Not sure about Malaysian maids and I havent heard of anyone who employs one. The salary expectation would be much higher and you might encounter sensitivities around non Halal food/drink if they are Muslim.

IMO your best bet is a Filipino. For approved agencies check the site for the Philippines embassy in Malaysia. Alternatively, you can find someone here whose current employer is leaving and needs a transfer.