Hiring An Ayi and A Driver In Beijing

Affordable domestic help is one of the luxuries of expat life in China. Whether you need a driver or someone to help with childcare and household chores like cooking and cleaning, domestic help will make life easier. As your employees, they will help you and your family to navigate some of the more challenging aspects of living in Beijing. When it comes to dealing with maintenance guys, tracking down missing parcels, or sourcing produce you just can’t find in your local store, they’ll prove invaluable during this period of transition.

While drivers may be assigned to executives by their company, domestic helpers (known in Beijing as ayis) will almost always be hired by the family, either directly or via an agency. You’ll need to do an interview, so it’s a good idea to ask someone to act as a translator so that both you and the prospective ayi are clear about expectations and benefits.

Do your research by browsing expat forums on the Internet, asking around your compound or building management, and seeking advice from other parents. Get a benchmark for ayiand driver working hours, average pay, overtime rates (if any), and the range of duties they can be expected to perform.

To read the full article, go over to our sister website beijingkids.

Photo: Dave piXSTUDIO