Posted: 20 July 2005 at 5:27pm | IP Logged

Is there anyone who can help the procedures to buy an airfare ticket

for the maid? I knew a maid who confronts to me that the EA is

overcharging her for the tickets which they have already bought the

airfare for her. I really pity the maid, they are here to work and she

really felt cheated. 

Posted: 21 July 2005 at 10:07am | IP Logged

All she has to do is to go to any travel agents that sells ticket to the destination she is heading.

However, for some reasons some employers would prefer the repatriation of maid to be handled by the agent, who would provide the services like booking an airticket, cancelation of wp, collecting the airticket, sending the maid to the airport, assisting the maid to check in, make sure the maid goes through the immigration, brief the maid the procedures of embarkation and disembarkation, and finally return the wp card to the MOM.

For all the services above, some agents would charge a repatriation services fee. Depending on the agreement between the maid and the employer and the circumstances of the repatriation, the maid could be paying for this fee well.

Posted: 21 July 2005 at 11:28am | IP Logged

Thank you for the reply.

Is she able to book her own tickets although the agent have purchased the tickets for her? On top of that she still have to bear

the lodging fees for 1 night b4 her departure date which does not

include in the expensive airfares the EA is charging her.

Posted: 21 July 2005 at 5:45pm | IP Logged

I think there is no point for the maid to get her own ticket since the agent has already bought it. She should try to find out the price of the ticket and with that information, ask why is she charged so excessively. Infact the employer would be able to assist her (if they are in good terms)

Before that, she should find out the actual price of a one way ticket (of the same airline) inclusive of taxes/insurances etc. Do not take the price of the advert in the newspaper as this advert is done to attract consumers and may not include the extra charges of taxes/insurances.

The other point of consideration, if she were to book a ticket, she may have to pick it up or get it delivered and this may add the cost up $10-$25 easily.

As for lodging, unless she has special arrangement with the employer that she is to shoulder the expenses, rightfully as far as we are concern, that should be the responsibility of the employer. For us, we normally do not charge the maid if it is only for a night stay prior to repatriation.

Posted: 09 April 2006 at 4:53pm | IP Logged

MY CONCERN IS ABOUT THE TIE UP OF SINGAPORE MAID AGENCIES IN SINGAPORE AND MANPOWER AGENCY HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. ARE THERE STILL PLACEMENT FEES FOR THE DH FOR SINGAPORE EVEN IF THERE IS A SALARY DEDUCTION THERE IN SINGAPORE? THE AGENCY IN SINGAPORE SAYS THE AGENCY HERE IN MANILA SHOULD CHARGE A SEPARATE PLACEMENT/SERVICE FEE FROM THE HELPER FOR PROCESSING OF DOCUMENTS HERE IN MANILA AND THEN ONCE THEY ARE IN SINGAPORE THEY WILL STILL BE DEDUCTIONS FROM THERE SALARIES. PLEASE REPLY TO MY EMAIL: moralesmelissa0617@yahoo.com

Posted: 13 May 2006 at 9:35pm | IP Logged

Will, as for my own openinon, why we should not try to surf in the net for all this rules, and labor laws based in singapore, Im pretty will verse about Hongkong rules, and understand the contrac very will, I think the maid in Singapore before they signed the contract they understand what it says there. And what is in the contract must be followed, and if incase the employeer or agent by passed the laws then she would try to report to the immigration and department of labor in Singapoer eand Philippines. Regarding the ticket i felt that its not her obligation, its the employeers task .agency caused the agency makes more money out of the maid and the employeers.

Beside dedections, the Philippine government had a standard of the charges of the DH, All you have to do is go to the POEA and ask them the how much, and sometimes the agency charge too much for thier professional fees so try to look this in POEA so that you can file a complained. Maids Pls. if you have complained while you are in Singapore do it right away, in Singapore location caused if you file that in the Philippines, it takes too long you are not alone of that horrible problem, I should suggest too, asked help from Church organization  of some migrant voulunteers services they can help you.