How much do you pay your full time helper?

Curious how much expats pay their full time helper. Trying to see if there is any correlation between pay and longevity, but not sure how to get that in a poll. It would also be interesting to know how average number of hours/week, but maybe that's probably another poll, too. I'll probably do 3 polls over time to get pay, longevity and hours per week.

Poll is per month salary.

 

When I used to hire helpers, I found a problem with that. A foreigner will often hire a full time "helper" (singular) and expect quite a bit from them. I used to do the same.

Eventually, I rented a larger place and when the need arose I had a nanny for the child and helping with the household chores (like cooking and doing dishes). She was paid 4,000 a month and considered to be the lead hand. I had a maid who was paid 3,000 a month and was responsible for all cleaning and sweeping the leaves (I hated that part but SWMBO said it was important). I had a gardener for weeding, cutting grass, planting flowers etc who was only paid 2,000 a month. On occasion, there were casual employees to repair the fences, fix the car, collect the coconuts and make copra.

With this arrangement, the only one who was constantly in need of replacement was the maid. So many reasons for the maids leaving but the one common denominator is that the Filipinas really do not like being maids. Over the years I had at least half a dozen maids, none of whom lasted more than 6 months. I paid them as little as 2,000 a month (10 years ago) to as high as 3,500) 5 years ago. At that point I said "feck it", moved to a smaller house, and never hired another maid.

 

Your poll question is lacking. I assume you are talking about the pay for "ONE MONTH" Is that correct?

 

I'd say that is correct Jim.

 

Correct, I tried to edit the poll but it can't be changed from what I can see, so I added to the first post.

 

When we lived in Manila, in 2009-10, we paid our live-in helper 3000php/mo PLUS we paid for her expenses to go visit her family (bus and boat fare) several times, plus we paid her medical expenses and of course we fed her. So, with all of the pluses, I would say it averaged out to about 5000/mo.

 

I don't employ anyone as it is just too much hassle (as Dave_Hounddriver says above, just live in a smaller house ) but are 'medical expenses' not a potentially bottomless pit - if the employee developed a serious illness. Or are you talking about paying only PhilHealth.

 

Does she eat rice and dried fish 3 times a day? Very small amount you add for food