Posted by
Diego
18 yrs ago
Our family has 2 Filipina domestic helpers.
The 1st one is working with us since May 2004, her contract was renewed last year May 2006.
The 2nd one arrived in Hong Kong on April, 2006.
I intend to lay them off very soon as we are not satisfied anymore with their work & attitude.
However, we would like them to leave our house immediately upon receiving our letter terminating their contract. At the same time, we will have hired 2 new ones to replace them almost the next day depending on how quick the immigration will have their new visa approved...
Can you please advise if we can do this?
If yes, please advise what things we should write in our letter? what money we need to provide them with? What papers do we need to send to the immigration?
Thanks for your help!
Diego
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TC
18 yrs ago
With the referral letter it's best to be clear up front about the reason for termination. If you are unhappy with their performance then say so. You might not say as much in writing but please don't give them a good reference as that will only pass on the problem to the next employer. Also be sure to include you contact details in the letter so that any future prospective employer can contact you for the real inside story. And don't use 'financial reasons' as a cop-out reason - else the ID will ask how you can turn around and afford new helpers straight away. Good luck with the new batch!
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Mag05
18 yrs ago
Agree with TC. In the reference letter (if you wish to give one) you may put down a statement. Something like I did:
"This letter is to confirm that Ms___ (passport number___) worked for me as a DH under the contract number ____ from _____ to _____. Her main duties and responsibilities were to: clean the house, do laundry, wash the car and look after a 7y.o. child.
Kind regards,
Name of the Employer
Tel. Number ____"
Your helper will be glad to get at least some kind of referral, while a potential employer may read between the lines that you are giving a statement without mentioning how good she was. Besides, the dates show that she was terminated. He/she will call you to check the details.
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crj
18 yrs ago
Question - why are you firing them? Just curious as I am about to hire a second maid and would like to know what can go wrong! Also, how did you find the two new ones, and how do you know they will work well together?
Now in response to your query.
To help avert any issues, you can also -
book a guest house for them in advance - so they can't complain they have no where to go.
book a van to collect their belongings - so they can't complain they have no time/way to pack.
Keep a copy of the tickets you buy them.
Yes the guest house and van will cost you money, but give you serious piece of mind. You could also have a 'witness' there you are not home alone while this is happening.
Be sure to document EVERYTHING, and follow the law to the letter. (as suggested above).
If they were not good, I would not write a reference letter, just what is required for immigration.
Also, you can transfer the levy from your old maids to your new maids.
Good luck!
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Diego
18 yrs ago
Thanks crj.
They are 2 sisters, so they do not fight against one another, but they team up against us & do the least possible in terms of cleaning.
They do not accomodate anything, though we make everything possible for them: borrow money (recently HKD22,000), they do not want to alternate during week ends, clean what they want to clean, listen half of what we say & what we ask for.
We pay them way above what the other employers do: HKD5,200 each excluding levy & all other costs
They should be pros, they only do half the job & we are fed up with the get to learn thing...
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crj
18 yrs ago
wow, and that was after you had the first one for two years and trusted her... yikes!
Good for you for being decisive.
We paid our last maid way above minimum as well, adn with our new we don't - it just wasn't worth it.
How are you hiring the next two? What will you do different to be sure they work well together?
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Diego
18 yrs ago
We asked the asiaxpat lady Evelyn & we check the below web sites:
www.hkdomestic.com
www.emaid.org
www.amahnet.com
Now, we are quite picky, we want a husband & wife couple. It should work, cross my fingers...
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crj
18 yrs ago
We thought abouthusband and wife, and Evelyn suggested to us that in her experience two strangers from the same country with a similar background work well.
But from reading this forum, all combinations are potentially good or bad!
Sisters - can be good or bad
Friends - can be good or bad
same country - can be good or bad
different country - can be good or bad
There does not seem to be a magic formula!!
We decided to hire the first one first, and chose someone with a very very low key gentle personality as we feel she will get on well with others. We will allow her to suggest people for the second helper, and we will interview too and have her meet our shortlist candidates, but we have the final say.
Thanks for the reply and best of luck with the couple - I hope they work out for you.
And good luck with your terminations - it won't be pleasant, but you will breath a huge sigh of releif when they are out and immigration is informed, etc...
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F100
18 yrs ago
hi,
crj gave you some really good advice.
Make sure that if you are going to ask them to leave immediately, that you have someone in the house with you as a witness.
i have a friend who terminated her helper. her helper then went back to her room and then started to hit herself to inflict some bruises.
she then called the police and filed a police report so that she could go to court and sue her employer for physical assault.
by going to court - she will be able to stay in hk longer thereby giving her extra time to find an employer.
my friend ended up spending thousands of dollars in barrister's fees as well as much grief and anger to these lies.
in the end, the helper withdrew all of the charges and found another employer.
however my friend still had to pay for the barrister's time.
hence, get everything in place and have your helper sign that she has been paid all of her wages, ticket back, taken all of her holidays and have no claims whatsoever. make sure you have a witness with you (ie. friend, guard,).
good luck,
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