One of the perks of living in Thailand is that you can afford regular domestic help, including a maid (‘Mae Baan’) and/or nanny (‘Pi Liang’), either on a full or part time basis. As with the hiring of any employee, you will have to conduct an interview, complete some paperwork, and subsequently manage your maid. Here are some things to consider when hiring a housekeeper.
For expats, the ideal help speaks some English, cooks and takes care of a variety of domestic tasks. The best way to find such a person is through word-of-mouth referrals from work colleagues, personal contacts or your landlord; engaging a domestic employment agent; and placing ads in local papers and on community boards in your neighborhood.
When you find some candidates, even from an agent, schedule a face-to-face meeting. Thoroughly interview the person, and make it clear what her duties include. Do you require cooking (if so, what kinds of cuisine?), childcare, grocery shopping, bill paying, household cleaning and laundry? Also, specify whether she will be a live-in or live-out maid, and state her regular working hours and benefits (food allowance, cooked meals in your home, living quarters, days off, annual bonus, etc.).
Be aware that some labour laws cover domestic help who are Thai nationals. The minimum age of employment is 15 for both males and females, but those under 18 have specific restrictions on their working hours and may not work without permission of the Labour Inspector.
All domestic employees are entitled to one day off per week, no fewer than 13 public holidays per year, and sick leave. While there is no specified minimum wage for domestics, salaries range from 7,000 to 20,000 a month, depending on experience and skills, including the ability to speak English. Also, your maid must receive overtime pay for working beyond her set hours, or on her entitled days off and holidays. Typically, a bonus equal to one month’s salary is also given at the end of the year.
When you have hired a maid, ask her to provide some paperwork, including a copy of her Thai ID card and house registration document (‘Tabien Baan’). Also, it doesn’t hurt to ask for letters of reference from previous employers. If you utilise an agent, they will handle this paperwork for you. Keep in mind that agency workers’ wages are usually higher than those of non-agency workers; in addition to collecting a servicing fee, agencies subscribe to workers compensation insurance and make contributions to the Social Security Fund on behalf of their staff.
And finally, learn more about Thai culture, customs and social norms/nuances in order to maintain good relationships and better manage expectations. Do not assume that your maid can read your mind – misunderstanding is easily the biggest source of frustration when a new person comes on board. With some patience, consistent communication and direct supervision at the beginning, you will soon have someone who can do the job according to your wishes.