| ) | Who are these Asian nannies? | |
| Asian nannies
are young (and sometimes not so young) women from economically less privileged
Southeast Asian nations, mainly the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar
and also a smaller number from the South Asian subcontinent.
However, the majority of the one hundred thousand-plus nannies in Singapore come from the Philippines and Indonesia. Most of the Filipino nannies are proficient in English; a tiny minority of Indonesian nannies speak English well. |
||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 2) | What can these Asian nannies do for me? | |
| Asian nannies
are unlike au pairs. They are not merely mothers' helpers, working half-time
and soaking in the local culture and sights through the courtesy of their
host families.
Asian nannies are often career nannies. They not only take care of babies, infants and toddlers, they also keep the house neat and tidy, cook for the children and the family and also do the laundry.
When they have more experience and are more confident they seek the challenge of working in another country, where the salary is much higher. |
||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 3) | Why do educated young women from Southeast Asia want to be domestic workers? | |
| Faced with lack
of meaningful employment opportunities at home, many educated young women
have little option but to accept whatever is available. Education graduates
work long hours as seamstresses in local garment factories to support their
families. But if they can manage to find their way to Singapore, many would
rather be domestic workers. What little they earn is what they send home.
And after two years, four years, sometimes longer, they are ready to work in Canada. They are more confident, speak English better and are more competent. Just as they adjust to life to Singapore, so will they adjust to life in Canada. |
||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 4) | But these Asian nannies, won't they cost an arm and a leg? | |
| Surprisingly,
the answer is no.
Asian nannies are happy with the C$1200 per month (or the equivalent of
the minimum wage prevailing in the relevant province) offered by Canadian
employers for a 40-50 hour week, live-in.
And out of the C$1200 the employer is entitled to deduct $300 for food and lodging provided. (This is approved by the Canada Government.) |
||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 5) | How long can an Asian nanny work for me? | |
| For as long as both parties are comfortable with each other. But for a start, an Asian nanny will work for you for two years. | ||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 6) | How long will the whole exercise take? | |
| It depends on
how fast you comply with Canada Human Resources Department. First, you will probably be
required to post an ad to offer the position locally. If you are not able
to find someone suitable, you will be given an approval to hire from Singapore.
It is not easy to attract the right nanny locally, at the right terms from the employer's point of view).
|
||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 7) | What is the agency fee? | |
| Let us give you are surprise. Send us an email. | ||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 8) | But won't they be homesick and leave after a few months? | |
| Surprisingly,
no! One might expect Asian nannies to be prone to bouts of homesickness,
like everybody else, especially if they leave their country for the first
time. But the fact is that those who live and work overseas (like Singapore)
for a few years have come to terms with this.
So Canadian employers need not worry about this. These Asian nannies have already been inured to not seeing their own family for a couple of years at a time. And they vicariously enjoy the little comfort their remittances bring to their family. The knowledge that they are not sacrificing their family in vain keeps them going. Anyway, before they go to Canada, they have already shown that they are tough enough to undergo a separation for a couple of years. When they go to Canada the first thing they miss is Singapore cooking. |
||
| [Top of page] | ||
| 9) | I want to hire an Asian nanny. How do go about it? | |
| Once you are
convinced that an Asian nanny from Singapore is the right choice, please
take a little time to list what you would like the nanny to do; what kind
of terms you will offer (usually quite standard); let the prospective nanny
have an idea of what kind of family she will be working for for the next
two years. We have prepared a form we hope is comprehensive enough.
Please go to the form, print it. Then fill it out and fax it to us at (65) 732-9113. Please click here to view and/or print the form. |
||
| [Top of page] | ||
The more accomplished ones, like Asian Nanny Janet even teach or tutor
their young charges. Some are well educated and would have been teachers
in their own country - if they could find a job as a teacher! Lacking opportunities
at home, they work in neighbouring Singapore where they free the mother
for more economically rewarding activities or a more active social life.