Guess what? I did see an automatic dishwasher for sale here once, but indeed it is very rare!

Our maids also get 13′th month pay if they have been with us for a year. On their birthday’s if they go home, they get nothing. If they celebrate it here we give them money. As for healthcare we pay ALL their medicines from fever to diarrhea medications and even all antibiotics when needed. If they must go to doctor or be hospitalized we pay for that too.

Our nanny who has been with us almost 20 years and has been with us to USA, Europe, Hk, etc get’s SSS and Philheath. She receives around US$600 each month.

Our househelp is paid PHP 1500 as starting salary but it goes up depending on performace and how long they have been with us, so some of our help get php 2,000 a month some get 3,500 a month.

Kennel help starts at 1800 a month.

All live in and have free food for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and dinner.

Off is played by ear like Bob said they just let us know when they want to take days off.

We don’t have a boy but have a stay out gardener he egts like 4,400 a month and gets free breakfast, snack, lunch, snack. He goes home at 5pm so does not get dinner.

You will find you need help here in the Philippines.

In the USA you have a dishwasher – here you need someone to wash dishes – I don’t think I ever saw a dishwasher being sold at any appliance center?

In USA you have a nice washer/dryer here the “normal” wahser dryers are different. We do have the US kind at home but mom thinks clothes look better handwashed so we have a laundry woman.

In USA- there is like no dust in your house – here you need someone to dust the place all the time.

So help is needed here, LOL LOL!

Hi Dan – Our maids don’t get any certain off days or vacation time. We just play it by ear. If they want to take some time off to go visit their family, or whatever other reason, we just evaluate their request. In general, if they want off, we let them off. Birthdays are generally work days, although they get a little extra attention on that day. We do buy them a birthday gift, and a cake and such to celebrate. If our maids have healthcare needs, we generally send them to the doctor and we pay for it.

You are doing a good job on your hired help. It is really fair what you have been doing. You made a valid point of what you can’t and you can do. Maybe one of these days you will find someone that you can keep a while. If(or when) Bill and I retire in the Philippines, I don’t plan on having a maid. As you pointed out in your respond in my comments in one of your post, it has to do with privacy. I have gotten used to the privacy thing. There’s just Bill and I, anyway. I do plan to hire someone to help me out with big chores once or maybe a couple of days a week like I do up here in the states.

You’re getting the handle of the workings of the Filipino labor force. Good for you and keep it up.

Liklik