Hire Nanny/maid

[delly]

Is anyone knows any nanny/maid agency in thailand? Any suggestion in hiring a trustable maid in thailand?

[chatette]

There's a few agencies. I have had dealings with this one: http://www.thaikidshome.com/ and would have hired a woman but ended up hiring someone who was refered by the maid in my office. I chanced upon this Web site http://www.perisko.com/ yesterday while looking on http://www.pantipmarket.com/ , which may well have others. Newspapers have ads, too.

Do some google research on what to ask for when hiring someone. An agency will typically do some screening then you have to do your own research. Word of mouth and/or references from previous employers are obviously preferable. You can also ask the person for a national police clearance, which will just tell you they've never been convicted of doing anything bad, and a health check if you're worried about reliability. You can also assume that a person whose family is located nearby will be less likely to suddenly take time off to go back home for family-related events.

Ideally, you will ask the person to come and work for you for a several days on a casual rate to gauge the performance. You should set tasks as well as not mentioning things that obviously need doing to get an idea of initiative. If you need cooking skills, ask the person to prepare a couple of dishes from recipes either in Thai or English, depending on your language requirements. You should have the person work while you are there and while you're out so that you can get a feel for having them about and for their ability to do things while you're not.

I give my helpers a list of routine chores and a daily menu and randomly ask for extras. I've found, over many years, that it's much easier for everyone if helpers are told what to do than expect them to show any initiative, which may in the event be misplaced.

I also have a daily cash book in which grocery purchases and other incidentals, are entered each day, with receipts when available. You should make a show of seriously checking the entries, signing them off or querying anything dodgy or inappropriate. I had one helper many years ago who was touching the wallet by overstating quantities and prices of fresh food bought from the local market. I found this out because I checked the prices since they seemed high. She was dispatched in a taxi none the wiser of my findings with an extra month's pay and `Thank you but I don't need you any more.' Cheaper to pay her off than have a disgruntled crook who knows my address and routine out there.

[delly]

Thanks chatette, That's was very helpful.