Maids, annual leave and contract renewal | ExpatWoman.com
 

Maids, annual leave and contract renewal

562
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 07:50

Could someone explain the logistics/timing of maids taking their annual leave at the end of their year's contract and renewing the contract?

In other words, how do you renew the maid's contract if she has gone home for a month (she will have all her documents)? Or do you wait until the maid is back to renew the contract? If the latter, surely they will be illegal by the time they get back and unable to renew the contract?? Alternatively, how about renewing the contract and then letting the maid go for their month? There must surely be a simple way, or do most maids take the money instead of vacation?

Struggling to get my head round the logistics of this one.
Our maids have either left or taken their leave early, so never had to think about the timing.

I also want the timing that is most likely to ensure our maid comes back!
She was intending to go home for good but has just changed her mind. I am slightly nervous she will be talked into not returning by her family when she gets home.

9
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2015 - 11:36
I always hire maids through agencies, when they enter we have 2 months grace period to stamp the residency on the passport, we use the grace period before stamping the residency and paying the fee, so when the maid completes a year of service she still have 7-8 weeks on her contract and her residency, she travels for a month, and we still have 3-4 weeks when she comes back to renew her contract. The contract date & residency start from the date of stamping her residency on passport not from the date of entry. Can you please share which agencies you have used'?
904
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 16:12
I always hire maids through agencies, when they enter we have 2 months grace period to stamp the residency on the passport, we use the grace period before stamping the residency and paying the fee, so when the maid completes a year of service she still have 7-8 weeks on her contract and her residency, she travels for a month, and we still have 3-4 weeks when she comes back to renew her contract. The contract date & residency start from the date of stamping her residency on passport not from the date of entry.
562
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 13:44
Sorry to hear that Wicked Angel. I assume you mean that it is preferable to let your maid go on vacation near the end of the contract when you have less to lose financially and time wise if they abscond? I think we will do that. Doesn't mean she'll come back but it won't be as much of a disaster. From my reading of the standard maid contract I assumed the norm is for maids to go on vacation at the end of the annual contract, but I'm still confused as to how that works in practice if you are renewing. Perhaps it doesn't and is only for those who are returning home?
904
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 10:48
I'd never renew the contract and pay for the renewal then send her on vacation. We sent our previous maid on vacation 1.5 months before her contract expiry date and we paid for returned ticket. She called saying that she missed her flight, when we tried to contact her back to arrange for a new ticket she didn't answer her phone then she switched it off. We couldn't cancel her visa until the expiry date and we couldn't start the process of sponsoring a new maid. She was "responsible", she "needed" the job as according to her she used to send all her money to her family, she didn't take all her stuff with her, she didn't even take or ask for her gratuity before leaving, but she decided not to come back. It wasn't planned and I have no clue why she decided not to come back. We even tried to contact her sister and family but none answered our calls. If you renew the contact and send her home on vacation and then she decides not to come back, it is a long process to cancel her visa, you'll have to report her as absconded, and I think you will have to wait 6 months before cancelling her visa then sponsoring another maid. edited by wickedangel_78 on 14/04/2015 <em>edited by wickedangel_78 on 14/04/2015</em>
562
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 15:17
Thanks Cowboy. That makes sense. Not sure how other people generally do it? I thought I was the only one letting our maid go in vacation before the end of the contract but maybe that is actually what people do. its got to be at a time convenient to the family after all, and her contract renewal Is in July when I'm away, so maid vacation then is impossible. I think she will come back. She is in her 40s and generally responsible (if very indecisive!). She was under pressure last year not to return but did the right thing. I can hold her pet cat to ransom in case she doesn't! And yes, I will have to have strict words. I've already done that about her mind changing regarding staying or going.
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 14:06
If she is from the Philippines she will need some papers from her embassy in order to come back, they will need her contract and your passport copy along with her passport, she will pay some fees and get a paper (overseas work certificate) which she will need to come back. I'd either let her go before her visa expires (but be sure she comes back before it's expired as renewing is easier than issuing a whole new visa once the expiry date has passed if she is outside the country) or I would let her go just after a new visa has been issued. Before she goes you would really need to have a serious conversation with her, as you don't want to waste money on renewing her contract if she isn't going to return. Hopefully she is responsible enough to understand the seriousness of the situation.
 
 

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