Maid: Thai Or Filipina?

[Newbee]

My friend is in the process of hiring a nanny/maid, and she has shortlisted two candidates, one is Thai, the other one is from the Philippines.

Both are in mid 40s, high school graduates.

One speaks nit noi English.

The other one is fluent in English, but has to do visa runs. She's been here for 10 years already.

My friend does not care about the language (kids can speak both English/ Thai, my friend may ask a secretary for translation 24/7)

Any advice on what to take into consideration when making her choice will be appreciated.

Edited May 7, 2008 by Newbee

[burman]

Is the Fillipino maid also fluent in Thai?

[Newbee]

Yes, the Fillipino maid SAID she can speak Thai, but my friend did not (and could not) check it

[burman]

Wouldn't the Fillipino maid be illegally employed?

[pop_corn]

then not good to have someone illegaly employeed. @ my family's place they have 2 girls from Myanmar and they do have work permit. So I don't see why could be so difficult for the Filipino lady to have one as well.

Other than that I do preffer Filipinos than thais

[DragonQuest]

grab the filipina, before she becomes a teacher lol

[Pepe']

grab the filipina, before she becomes a teacher lol

------------------

My ex mother in law had many illegal Burmese maids,laborers and drivers in her employ. They were very nice and hard workers. Much better than the Thais where we had a huge turn over.

Of course one of her sons was chief of police and the other one of the largest heavy costruction contractors (local mafia of course) in Samut Sakorn. Ya gotta love it.

It kills me to see how so many TV members believe they know how the "Happy Thai" culture works here but really don't have a clue. They can dream can't they.

I just have to shake my head and chuckle. I've seen it from the inside. from Taksin, certain senators, local law enforcement all rotten to the core. It's only good when you're "in."

I had a brief taste of that power and being above the law is truely intoxicating.

<edit>

Edited May 8, 2008 by Totster

[glassdude007]

i think we should ask "sir Burr" this question???

im sure he has servants around the house.....

[bkkblueeyes]

No one is above the law.

And we are in Thailand People!!!! If need a maid get a Thai !! Derrr

[stress]

that a bit sick there, mate

[aries27]

good, bkkblueeyes.

and that is how it should be...

[thaihome]

I'm just amazed that someone would even consider nationality a factor in the decision rather then just qualifications. And this on a forum that goes on and on about how racist Thais are with the double pricing and such.

TH

[aries27]

i think it is quite justified to some extent. with nationality, comes certain understood and often expected qualifications. in PH, we also kinda classify maids according to regions from where they come from. and this is not just true for maid professions but others like nurse (filipinas they say are more caring and more respectful esp to senior patients), same way maybe as you would prefer a dutch engineer over an american if you are building some dams or structures like that, simply because they carry some built-in characteristics in them that comes from being a nationality of this and that country....

am i making sense here?

[LuckyFive8888]

grab the filipina, before she becomes a teacher lol

if you decide to get the thai can you please pm me the details of the filipina? i'm interested.

[sweetchariot]

Ask your husband. Simple really, which one is the fittest?

[Ulysses G.]

I think that I would for a 20 year old Lao or Burmese girl instead.

[LuckyFive8888]

I think that I would for a 20 year old Lao or Burmese girl instead.

these age brackets cannot cook or maybe you need a mia noi?

[Pepe']

No one is above the law.

-------------------------

You don't get out much do?

And we are in Thailand People!!!! If need a maid get a Thai !! Derrr

[Naam]

then not good to have someone illegaly employeed. @ my family's place they have 2 girls from Myanmar and they do have work permit. So I don't see why could be so difficult for the Filipino lady to have one as well.

Other than that I do preffer Filipinos than thais

the Filipina canNOT get a work permit. but it is possible to get a work permit for citizens of the neighbouring states Burma, Laos and Cambodia. procedure is not cheap and a bit complicated but still cheaper than employing a Filipina who has to do visa runs and works illegally.

[quiksilva]

We have a legal Burmese maid who is excellent.

Edited May 8, 2008 by quiksilva

[Beardog]

I would be more inclined to go for a Filipino lady over a Thai lady. Just cause they usually bust their but & pay attn to detail more. And probably wouldn't be on the mobile 24-7.

[steelepulse]

I would be more inclined to go for a Filipino lady over a Thai lady. Just cause they usually bust their but & pay attn to detail more. And probably wouldn't be on the mobile 24-7.

Guess it depends on a few factors, but communicaton with the owners and the local shops/stores/markets are important too.  Another big factor is the cooking ability.  I've never really had decent Philippino food, but my maid sure cooks excellent Thai food and can go out and do the shopping etc.

[Old Man River]

then not good to have someone illegaly employeed. @ my family's place they have 2 girls from Myanmar and they do have work permit. So I don't see why could be so difficult for the Filipino lady to have one as well.

Other than that I do preffer Filipinos than thais

the Filipina canNOT get a work permit. but it is possible to get a work permit for citizens of the neighbouring states Burma, Laos and Cambodia. procedure is not cheap and a bit complicated but still cheaper than employing a Filipina who has to do visa runs and works illegally.

Thailand's department of labor has changed their policies as it relates to Burmese maids due to the Burmese government's refusal to help Thailand in the identification process of maids who are from Burma. Actually, I had read about this several months ago, but forgot about it until we went to get papers for our new maid (we already have one maid from Burma who is legal). We were told that work papers were no longer available for Burmese maids, but we could get papers for maids from Laos and Cambodia as their governments were still willing to support Thailand in this process.

Somehow, given everything we have seen involving the Burmese government and their unwillingness support their citizens, this isn't surprising.

[jstumbo]

the Filipina canNOT get a work permit. but it is possible to get a work permit for citizens of the neighbouring states Burma, Laos and Cambodia. procedure is not cheap and a bit complicated but still cheaper than employing a Filipina who has to do visa runs and works illegally.

Sounds like the illegally working Filipina would have more of an incentive to do a good job.

But I do not like all the illegals in the US, so I would go with a legal Thai maid.

Edited May 8, 2008 by jstumbo

[Andrew Hicks]

My friend is in the process of hiring a nanny/maid, and she has shortlisted two candidates, one is Thai, the other one is from the Philippines.

Both are in mid 40s, high school graduates.

One speaks nit noi English.

The other one is fluent in English, but has to do visa runs. She's been here for 10 years already.

My friend does not care about the language (kids can speak both English/ Thai, my friend may ask a secretary for translation 24/7)

Any advice on what to take into consideration when making her choice will be appreciated.

Having a nanny in the house looking after your children is an extremely close and personal relationship. Surely you will make the decision based on your assessment of the individual.

Which one do you feel most comfortable with and who will be best able to control and look after your children responsibly.

I employed Filipinas in Hong Kong and Singapore for twelve years and generally they were excellent. I was so grateful that I even wrote and published a self-help manual for them.

Even so, other things being equal I'd always prefer to employ someone locally. A migrant worker can become very dependent on you and when there are family problems for them back home the complications are multiplied.

[aries27]

a friend needs a driver/bodyguard. very wealthy and very friendly. she likes caucasian, or caucasian looking ones (we call them mestizo "half-breeds" over here.. she is asking how much would the going rate for them be, upon learning that there are many farangs in LOS looking for jobs other than teaching and working in farms. i told her, i honestly dont know. does anyone here know? just to give her some idea? she has some fantasies of being an eva longoria and having a caucasian hunk working for her. anyone care to give some info?

btw, the friend is over 40 but is she hot...could give 18 year olds a run for their money...... really.....

Edited May 8, 2008 by aries27

[britmaveric]

Thai Maid - an illegal flipper could put you in a bind.

[Crushdepth]

I would be more inclined to go for a Filipino lady over a Thai lady. Just cause they usually bust their but & pay attn to detail more. And probably wouldn't be on the mobile 24-7.

Depends on how fast she can text!

[aries27]

Thai Maid - an illegal flipper could put you in a bind.

oh, she could, BM, she could...watch them...they could be fast learners too once theyve learned the ropes. but am not sure if that would be good or bad...

ok, keep looking for my friend's wanted ad. not really sure if she's serious but maybe some other friends could use the references? hitting the sack now...

[Pepe']

Thai Maid - an illegal flipper could put you in a bind.

=============

In my experience they know how to use their flippers better than Thai maids..