Household help is readily affordable in Turkey and even those on a modest income often hire the services of a maid. Daily or weekly cleaning of your house is sometimes done by the Kapıcıs (the man that looks after your building) wife or by her relatives. Or you can get help from your neighbors. To ensure the safety of yourself and your belongings, when hiring someone new, you would be well advised to use referrals from friends and colleagues. Please keep in mind that maids are paid on a daily basis, not hourly.
If you employ a maid on a full time basis, 5 or 6 days per week, then you should agree on a monthly salary, in Turkish Lira, to be adjusted every four months to counter the effects of inflation. It is more economical to hire someone to work full time for you than it is to pay the higher fees for a maid that comes in two or three times a week (i.e. the amount a full time maid earns per day, working for one family, is less than if she were to charge per day for different employers).
If you are a foreigner, hiring a full time maid, you can expect that she will try to get you to agree to buy her health insurance. If you can somehow include her in your company, then fine, but otherwise, you are not expected and don't need to provide this. It is a sustantial bonus for your employee but often cuostly to provide. Check around with your friends and neighbors to determine the going rate for maid services.
Companies specializing in house cleaning are usually used after renovation or decoration and for furniture and carpet cleaning purposes. Addresses are in our yellow pages.
Here are some Turkish words and short sentences you may need while communicating with your maid. Don't forget to add the word lütfen (please) beore or after the sentence.
Wash the dishes Bulaşıkları yıka Dry the dishes Tabakları kurula Clean the top of the refrigerator Buzdolabının üstünütemizle Clean the refrigerator a sponge Buzdolabının içini süngerle temizle Clean the outside of the kitchen cupboards Mutfak dolaplarının dışını sil Clean the oven Fırını/ocağı temizle Clean the inside of the kitchen Mutfak dolaplarının içini temizle Tidy up the drawers Çekmeceleri düzenle Put everything away HerÅŸeyi yerine koy Sweep Süpür Scrub Ov Wipe up Sil Shake the rugs Halıları silkele Do not shake the rugs Halıları silkeleme Clean Temizle Use the vacuum cleaner Elektrik süpürgesini kullan Don't use the vacuum cleaner Elektrik süpürgesini kullanma Mop the floor Yerleri sil Dust Tozları al Straighten/tidy up Her tarafı topla Do the laundry Çamaşırları yıka Make the beds Yatakları düzelt Empty the ashtrays Sigara tablalarını dök Empty the wastebasket Kağıt sepetlerini dök Clean the silver GümüÅŸ takımları parlat Polish Parlat Wash the balconies Balkonları yıka Tide up the drawers Çekmeceleri düzenle Clean the wall Duvarları sil Clean the toilets and the sink Tuvaletleri ve lavaboyu temizle Change the bed sheets ÇarÅŸafları deÄŸiÅŸtir Wax Cilala Cook PiÅŸir Hang up the clothes Çamaşırları as Wash the windows Camları sil Open the door Kapıyı aç Shut the door Kapıyı kapat Open the window Pencereyi aç Shut the window Pencereyi kapat Please watch the children while I am not here Burada olmadığım zaman çocuklara bakar mısın lütfen I want istiyorum Name or show what you want first then say istiyorum For your maid to bring you an item or object, name what you want first then say getirir misin For the maid to put something, name first the object, than the place and koyar mısın
The quarterly inflation adjustment is past, going rates are YTL 700 or USD 500 per month for a fulltime job. Add some YTL 50-100 as bus money (dolmus). Permit eating (your food), do not permit smoking in the house. The editors are talking about compulsory social insurance (SSK), whereby the element of health can be excluded. Be sceptical in hiring Turkish maids seemingly under marital pressure. Prefer divorcees. Be super careful in hiring Bulgarians, they may leave you within a fortnight (standard story: visa problems, though she probably was re-assigned by her agent). Prepare detailed job-list with Turkish translation. Consider to retain some money from the wages to combat doubtful sick-leaves or sudden off-works. Bear in mind that expat families are preferred employers for fair treatment but also for ill-intended maneuvres.
By
helpfulstranger 28.10.2005
I really like this site, a commendable effort. However if you do get a maid please please do not use the translations given on this page ”as is” - they are correct, however will come across as if you are barking orders at a dog. You must ”polite” these up - the standard ”...misin lutfen” as on the last couple of examples will do just fine!!
Would you like to add your comment about this article? Click here!
By
klausd 27.8.2007
