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Have you ever wondered if AI chatbots could assist domestic helpers in their daily tasks and skill development? Well, let's dive into the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating artificial intelligence, particularly AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT and Google's Bard, into the domestic help industry. Dispelling Misinformation Currently, if you were to ask ChatGPT if helpers are entitled to public holidays for example, you will get a "Yes" in response. That's not accurate and depends on the terms  and conditions specified in the employment contract. While AI chatbots have their quirks, it's essential to look beyond a single misleading answer. Like any information source, they can have inaccuracies. So, how does this connect to our domestic helpers? Keep reading. Enhancing Efficiency and Skill Sets The use of AI is gaining traction in various industries, and the domestic help sector is no exception. AI can simplify tasks for domestic helpers, from sche

Are you frustrated by your new helper's mistakes? Do you feel like you're constantly having to show her how to do things? Is your new maid more helpless than helpful? Don't worry, it's perfectly normal for new helpers to make mistakes. They are still learning the ropes and may not be familiar with your household's specific needs and expectations. Here are some common mistakes that new hires make: Mishandling of electrical items, causing failure Not knowing how to handle children Not knowing what to do if not given a schedule or clear instructions Not cleaning or tidying up properly Breaking or damaging household items Your helper's lack of knowledge could lead to costly repair! If you are concerned about your new maid's mistakes, the best thing to do is to be patient and understanding. Provide them with  clear and concise instructions,  and be sure to give them positive feedback when they do something well. You can also use Step Up to help your maid improve

Mr Tay Khoon Beng, Director of Best Home Employment Agency Photo: Best Home Best Home is a leading employment agency in Singapore with 26 years of experience in maid-employer matching, training, documentation and mediation. Their maid training program is conducted in-house with trainers providing training to domestic workers at local centres in their home countries. Although this method was effective in producing well-trained helpers, it was also time-consuming and sometimes inconsistent due to varying trainers' methods. In 2022, as the domestic help industry raced to resume operations post-pandemic, Mr Tay Khoon Beng, Director of Best Home started to look at solutions to improve maid training. “I wanted a standard online curriculum that could be used to train MDWs of all nationalities. E-learning was the way to go since all MDWs have mobile phones and can easily access the training materials even back at their home countries.” A comprehensive training curriculum The solution he fo

Step Up transforms domestic worker training for employment agencies with an innovative online video training tool: Step Up for Agencies. Step Up for Agencies is the ultimate white label solution for employment agencies looking for a full or hybrid online training program for their domestic workers. Our platform offers a simple and easy-to-use admin panel and dashboard for agencies to create worker accounts, manage training, view progress, and monitor results. With Step Up for Agencies, agencies can have their own branded learning websites, powered by our extensive library of over 150 training videos. The videos are available in multiple languages including Bahasa Indonesia and Tagalog, and cover a wide range of topics, including cleaning, cooking, child care, financial literacy and many more, so that domestic workers can acquire the skills they need to excel in their roles. Results Guaranteed! Our platform is designed to save employment agencies time and money while providing their wor

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to train your helper will vary depending on her previous experience, level of skill, and your specific needs and preferences. However, some tips on how to train your helper effectively include: 1. Be clear and concise in your instructions When giving your helper instructions, make sure to be clear and concise. Ask her to repeat the instruction so there's no misunderstanding. Check her facial expression and body language. If she still looks confused, you could use Google Translate to repeat the same instruction in her language. 2. Communicate your expectations Make sure your helper knows what is expected of her in terms of duties, schedule, and performance. It's not enough to just say "Clean the toilet today." Tell her specifically what areas need to be wiped or sprayed with water. Let her know you expect it to be done at a certain time, otherwise she may work on other chores and leave it until the

When you are shortlisting and reviewing potential helpers, you will need to look at their employment history. You can find this information on the  MOM website . Do note that this only shows her employment history in Singapore and not in other countries. HOW TO CHECK A FDW'S EMPLOYMENT HISTORY To access this information, you will need your Singpass details. To look up a particular helper, you need her full name or FIN number, date of birth, and nationality. Once you are on the page, you can see "Employment period", "Household size", "Housing Type" such as Landed, HDB, Private flat/apartment, "Cancellation Reasons" and "Expected Job Scope". WHAT TO LOOK FOR Source: MOM website First, look at the employment period column. In Singapore, a helper’s employment contract duration is 2 years. Look at how many contracts she has completed. If the helper has completed more than 1 employment contract, it means she has a good track record. Howev

Your helper has just agreed to work for you for another 2 years and the next thing to do is to renew her work permit. If you’ve never done it before and don’t know how to go about doing it, this article is for you (or watch the explainer video here ). 2 ways to renew your helper’s work permit.  You can either go to any maid agency to help you with the paperwork for a fee. Or you can do it yourself to save costs. It’s really not that difficult. How to DIY The letter should arrive 8 weeks before the expiry date. 8 weeks before the permit expires, you should receive a letter from MOM. Once you receive the letter, you should do 2 things. #1. Get a new FDW medical and personal accident insurance plan. You also must get a new MOM-imposed security bond, which can be bought from the same insurer. The effective date of the security bond can be post-dated up to 1 day after the expiry date of the existing Work Permit. It will take up to 3 working days for your insurer to send MOM the security bon