Getting a maid via an agency - any advice?
I'm at the end of my rope on the maid search. . .every good lead seems to result in a dead end. So. . .I'm resorting to obtaining a maid through an agency. I have avoided going through an agency because I really wanted to meet the person first and be able to speak with the person's previous employer/sponsor. . .guess it isn't going to work out that way.
I'm worried about just how reliable the agencies will be in terms of meeting our specifications. Perhaps we are asking too much, but we want someone who:
*has a pleasant, fun and outgoing disposition (someone who is quiet/dour probably wouldn't be happy with our family)
*has experience with kids
*actually likes dogs (we don't want our dog to be locked up or abused when we're not around)
*speaks English well (my son didn't take to our Spanish-only nanny, unfortunately)
Do the agencies send any ol' warm body from the country of choice, or do they actually try to find a "good match"? Does anyone have any words of wisdom, recommended agencies, etc.?
After visiting the agency, how long will it be before someone is in place working? Are they always transporting the women from their home country or do they have some women waiting for work here in Doha?
If that person doesn't work out, then how long does it take to get #2? As I understand it, sponsors have the right to "return the maid" (I hate that term, but for lack of a better one at the moment I'll use it) for three months. How does that work - any catches? Are we allowed unlimited returns for three months? If there's no good match at the end of three months then are we given a refund or is it just tough luck? Hopefully we'll find someone well before three months, but who knows. . .
I'm completely clueless on this and have yet to find a comprehensive guide to how the whole thing works. . .any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Expat Sueño
If I got it right, you just arrived in Qatar. So am I! I am also looking for a Nanny/ housemaid, for a few hours a day. Would you be interrested to share? Where about do you leave in Doha? My daughter (almost 5) is dying to play with spanish speaking kid. How old is your son? Maybe we could met around the corniche's payground once?
Hope to hear from you soon.
I really wish I could find someone here. . .going through an agency just doesn't sit well with me because like you said, bleu, they're screwing the maids coming and going.
Fingers crossed that I luck into someone I really like whose expat family is moving away. . .
Expat Sueño
Sorry, but it's usually "warm body"...
They would show you photos and a list of skills. It's usually about someone else.
I guess they just order 30 Filipinas, 20 Indonesians and 10 Indians plus 10 from different nationality monthly. The give you one and if you return her, they'll give you another maid that was returned by someone else.
+ The people at the agencies lie a lot, so don't believe anything they tell you
Then they tell you that you need to pay QR XX to get her, and that includes her ticket and first 2 months salary and you need to pay her a salary of QR XX. She doesn't know about that and paid for the ticket, as well as 3 months of the salary she was told which is much higher than what you were told.