The pivotal question for your maid hiring journey in 2023 is – Should you choose to hire through an agency which charges premium or take a hands-on approach, delving into the seemingly complex processes to save on agency fees? Is an agency truly necessary?
Whether you should hire a maid through an agency or not depends on your circumstances during the time of hiring. It ultimately boils down to 2 important factors: Cost savings VS Convenience – which do you value more?
In today’s fast-paced world, juggling work, family, and household chores can be overwhelming. This is precisely why many of us are even considering to hire a helper with expectations to lessen the burden of daily mundane tasks. If you are an individual who seeks the most convenience, hiring from an agency will undoubtedly be a tempting option.
However, If you lean towards a hands-on approach and wish to delve into the entire process of hiring a helper and knowing what you are getting yourself into—from sourcing the right manpower to training and establishing legal contracts for compliant employment—you are more inclined to hire without an agency. While there are financial advantages to this approach, it’s important to consider these factors before making your decision.
1. Finding your suitable candidate
Opting to hire without an agency will mean that you’ll be foregoing the value-added services maid agencies are here to provide, putting the responsibility of finding candidates directly on you. Employers who choose to hire independently without a maid agency often already have someone in mind, typically somebody they know or have been acquainted with due to a pre-existing relationship or acquaintance. This familiarity can create a level of trust and understanding, streamlining their own hiring process as employers are already acquainted with the potential candidate’s skills, work ethic, and reliability.
Additionally, hiring someone known can simplify negotiations and discussions about terms of employment, contributing to a smoother and more personalised hiring experience.
2. Paperwork Application
Many employers have specific timelines for when they require assistance. It is crucial to be well versed with the full process to ensure a timely employment to their household without delays. Maid agencies in many situations can bring substantial value to the table through their extensive industry experience and knowledge. Their years in the field have equipped them with insights into embassy requirements, expediting the hiring process for you.
If you’re willing to invest time in understanding this process and managing the paperwork to ensure accurate document submission for permit applications, hiring directly without an agency could be an option. However this is also only applicable for hiring from other countries except for the Philippines.
Why so?
Only accredited maid agencies, authorised by the Philippines embassy, are permitted to handle the necessary paperwork for overseas employment. This accreditation ensures that the agency is well-versed in the embassy’s requirements and can navigate the process effectively. Contact us if you require help or are facing any difficulties with hiring maids from the Philippines.
3. Screening, Training and Supervision:
Maid agencies typically meticulously screen and shortlist maid candidates to determine their suitability to be employed as a helper and assisting prospective employers. We ensure that candidates are well-prepared before being considered for placement.
Hiring without an agency means you will be responsible for your helper’s training as it will set the standards of the hire who’ll be working with you closely for the rest of her contract period. This process can be demanding for potential employers as employers.
4. [MOM] Attend Employers’ Orientation Programme
Additionally, you should note that there is an Employers’ Orientation Programme which is a 3-hour long programme run by MOM that is made mandatory for first-time employer or an employer who has changed MDWs frequently. This Programme fee will cost between $35 to $60 and must be completed at least 2 working days before submitting a Work Permit application.
For more information, kindly refer to MOM’s page here.
In summary, opting to hire directly without an agency can cut down on agency fees, yet it brings a host of added responsibilities and potential challenges in managing the entire hiring process, considering our limited industry knowledge compared to a maid agency. Opting to hire from an agency is still widely considered the safest and most conventional approach for most employers who prefer to have all the hassle—the sourcing, the contracts, and all the admin work that goes into the process—taken care of right from the start. After all, it’s not that expensive to hire through our competitive agency where we offer a super competitive rates in the industry starting from only $588. View our packages in details here or contact us to learn more!
A1 Employment Agency Pte Ltd has over a decade of experience in domestic helper hiring. We are committed to providing you with the best service standard in this competitive industry. Contact us for maid solutions.