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House boys?

140

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 09:53

I am looking for a maid and asked some local Maids for help looking... A Sri Lankan maid came and said her son in law is looking to return to Dubai (was working in docks cleaning and cooking) as a house boy. I'd not considered having a houseboy. We have older boys so on that score I don't need a 'nanny' (and the babysitting side is only someone being here to supervise whilst I do activity runs, or ocassional evenings out) and all the hotels seem to use men as 'chambermaids' so they can't be bad at household chores...

Anyone got any advice/ thoughts, please? DH didn't seem to mind...

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2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 14:14

I had a houseboy for 2 years. Replaced him with a housemaid as he had to go back to Bangladesh. He was lovely. cleaning was fab ... and he would climb up a ladder and dust the light fittings and clean the ac filters too ! It was handy because he would fix things for me as well. He would clean the cars inside and out once a week, move the cooker and clean behind. I loved his cleaning. He was soo sweet, would be thankful for anything that I gave him and loved getting ‘ sirs old clothes’ ! He would do the garden lift heavy stuff as well. The only negative was washing and ironing.. I would do my own, but no matter how many times I told him to separate the lights brights darks and whites he would still stick everything in the machine 

704

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 13:58

Ever since we moved to our own Villa I got a house boy instead of a mail. My boys are both teenagers so in that sense they dont need luking after. Am ever so happy witha houseboy, no mood swings & attitutde. Touch wood.

140

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:36

I know I've got to toughen up a bit on this... so glad EW is here for us to get advice;) Will speak to the MIL of this chap - she has his passport copy and cv. Is it ok to trial one in your home, thinking about legalities??

1414

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:28

Yes of course you must be the Sponsor, I have noticed there are a few HB's advertising for part time work on EW stear clear and I would suggest you ask how much he is expecting to get paid before he gets here aswell, to make sure its in line with what you want to pay.

993

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:26

Just thought i would suggest as a reminder that visas are checked for houseboys as well , in that they are not someone else's sponsorship when working for you. there was a sad letter in 7days last week on a person being handcuffed at his workplace and humiliated only because the maid working at his place was under someone elses sponsorship...

1414

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:25

Just to add, JS, my maid who I have now is really lovely, but she can't do the washing AT ALL she dumps all in one washing machine no matter how many times I tell her, and puts all clothes on the hottest setting in the dryer, so unfortunately not specific to men... I think its called lazy itis ;)

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:24

Just to add, JS, my maid who I have now is really lovely, but she can't do the washing AT ALL she dumps all in one washing machine no matter how many times I tell her, and puts all clothes on the hottest setting in the dryer, so unfortunately not specific to men...

1414

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:23

His MIL said she'd train him up to do anything he couldn't do, but which I wanted him to do... She's nice, very good at ironing!! She's been a maid 16 years... I'd have to bring him in from SL - she said on a visit visa. But what's involved in that? I'd need to pay a ticket and keep him once here, and then get his visa sorted once here.. Is that right? That makes it more expensive, I guess? I think I might be better having a house boy, the more I think about it. I used to manage men in a factory and found them infinitely easier than women to manage, LOL! I would be outnumbered then, though...! Ha. Thanks for any advice Ladies, very welcome... Personally I would NOT pay for anything to start with.... if he wants a job tell them he can get himself here to Dubai on a tourist visa, then you can trial him to see if he's any good, why waste your money if he's rubbish and you don't like him? He can stay 30 days and then extend another 30 days if need be, then you have to send him out of the country to convert his visa over, we just did a flight to Oman quick and easy. I know that sounds mean but I just wasted 5 grand on a maid who took us for a ride, end of the day if he wants a job then he can get here... they just trying to see if you will pay it....

1414

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:19

I am looking for a maid and asked some local Maids for help looking... A Sri Lankan maid came and said her son in law is looking to return to Dubai (was working in docks cleaning and cooking) as a house boy. I'd not considered having a houseboy. We have older boys so on that score I don't need a 'nanny' (and the babysitting side is only someone being here to supervise whilst I do activity runs, or ocassional evenings out) and all the hotels seem to use men as 'chambermaids' so they can't be bad at household chores... Anyone got any advice/ thoughts, please? DH didn't seem to mind... Sorry to add, its a personal preference but I would NEVER have left my children alone with him, while I popped out, for babysitting ect and he was with us for years, I just didn't deem that right, but obvioulsy that was just me. Jsphepard - where do you find HB? Do they advertise or is it word of mouth? Can they cook? Thanks - this whole getting a maid thing is doing my head in!! My first one came with my husband ;) he knocked on his door looking for cleaning work and had a job with him then us for 11 years. My new HB had an Advert in Le Marche with a picture ect and I just took a chance called him up, let me husband meet with him ( to make sure he wasn't a weirdo) and then took him on as a trial (that's when you really know) and volia I have a new hB just processing his visa. My new guy had no experience which initally did put me off but he is working fine and having the time to show him how to do things is an advantage ie bed making ect I'm sure cooking would be fine you'd have to ask and get them to prepare some things for you ...

140

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:16

His MIL said she'd train him up to do anything he couldn't do, but which I wanted him to do... She's nice, very good at ironing!! She's been a maid 16 years... I'd have to bring him in from SL - she said on a visit visa. But what's involved in that? I'd need to pay a ticket and keep him once here, and then get his visa sorted once here.. Is that right? That makes it more expensive, I guess? I think I might be better having a house boy, the more I think about it. I used to manage men in a factory and found them infinitely easier than women to manage, LOL! I would be outnumbered then, though...! Ha. Thanks for any advice Ladies, very welcome...

30

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:10

I am looking for a maid and asked some local Maids for help looking... A Sri Lankan maid came and said her son in law is looking to return to Dubai (was working in docks cleaning and cooking) as a house boy. I'd not considered having a houseboy. We have older boys so on that score I don't need a 'nanny' (and the babysitting side is only someone being here to supervise whilst I do activity runs, or ocassional evenings out) and all the hotels seem to use men as 'chambermaids' so they can't be bad at household chores... Anyone got any advice/ thoughts, please? DH didn't seem to mind... Sorry to add, its a personal preference but I would NEVER have left my children alone with him, while I popped out, for babysitting ect and he was with us for years, I just didn't deem that right, but obvioulsy that was just me. Jsphepard - where do you find HB? Do they advertise or is it word of mouth? Can they cook? Thanks - this whole getting a maid thing is doing my head in!!

1414

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:08

I am looking for a maid and asked some local Maids for help looking... A Sri Lankan maid came and said her son in law is looking to return to Dubai (was working in docks cleaning and cooking) as a house boy. I'd not considered having a houseboy. We have older boys so on that score I don't need a 'nanny' (and the babysitting side is only someone being here to supervise whilst I do activity runs, or ocassional evenings out) and all the hotels seem to use men as 'chambermaids' so they can't be bad at household chores... Anyone got any advice/ thoughts, please? DH didn't seem to mind... Sorry to add, its a personal preference but I would NEVER have left my children alone with him, while I popped out, for babysitting ect and he was with us for years, I just didn't deem that right, but obvioulsy that was just me.

1414

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:05

Ok I had my first HB for 11 years he was a good guy, cleaning was always only good never outstanding zxZ(but I didn't) have time then to show him otherwise really. Great for looking after our dogs while away, great at doing the garden and maintance type things inside and out, great for washing cars, washing windows, he was a great ironer and made a bed like no other. BUT no use to me really for my little ones, babysitting or cooking (althou I have never had anyone cook anyway) The only other thing was I used to do my washing and my little ones as he had no clue!!!! despite me telling him a million times about colours, fabrics, settings, tumble driers.. ect ect but husbands shirts, trousers ect all fine,one setting only require on iron and washing machine ;) He also didn't get pregnant, wear my clothes, steal my make up and perfumes ect ;) I did try to have a maid recently (got stung BIG time) and have resorted back to type and just taken on a new younger hb but this time am training up as I have more time. Its a bummer I didn't get the help with the children I was after, bit after the maid experience think I am better off not bothering :) so I'd say go for it ....

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 October 2011 - 10:00

I have had a houseboy before and he was fab, actually in many ways far better than a woman. I don't think anyone has cleaned my house as well as he did, so I would definitely recommend a house boy.

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