Hiring domestic helpers through apps: Homeowners save money, and domestic helpers are no longer treated like servants.

Becoming a part-time housekeeper through apps is helping many female unskilled workers significantly improve their income, earning around 15 million VND per month, and even 35 million VND during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang is working the afternoon shift at an apartment building in District 4 (Ho Chi Minh City) - Photo: N. Xuan

Operating similarly to ride-hailing apps, users can book professional cleaning, laundry, cooking, and babysitting services with just a few taps on their phone.

Searching high and low for the ideal housekeeper.

Recently, Trinh Pham, a KOL with over 1.21 million followers on YouTube, took to social media to complain about her housekeeper suddenly quitting after Tet (Lunar New Year).

The temporary solution that Trinh Pham chose and suggested is to hire hourly help through apps like bTaskee, Guvi, Childcare Pro, Miss Care, etc., because it helps quickly find professional cleaners, cooks, or childcare providers with transparent costs.

Unlike Trinh Pham, who considered it a temporary solution, many families have switched entirely to hiring hourly domestic helpers through apps instead of hiring full-time staff.

According to Ms. Nguyen Trang (residing in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City): "Hiring a domestic helper seems simple, but my family used to go through 2-3 helpers a year. Some kept asking for time off, others kept demanding a raise...", Ms. Trang listed. She added that she has completely switched to hiring hourly helpers through apps.

"My housework is quite simple, so hiring someone by the hour is enough, and it saves money compared to hiring someone full-time," Trang shared.

Meanwhile, Ms. Mai Ngoc Mai (residing in Hoc Mon) said that she hired a part-time housekeeper for the first time through an online group at a price of 80,000 VND/hour. The result was that the work was not only slow but also sloppy.

According to Ms. Mai, prices on domestic helper hiring apps don't differ much, and you can choose someone based on the app's ratings. "Those with low ratings get fewer jobs, so they're more cautious. Especially since many apps offer professional training, there's less need for instruction," she shared.

The maid complained about the outdated model.

Not wanting to be ordered around like a "servant," wanting to be respected as an assistant, having time for family, and earning a better income – these are the reasons why many domestic workers are switching to full-time freelance work on apps instead of staying with a family.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh Thu (50 years old, from Kien Giang province), who works for bTaskee, said that getting jobs through the app helps her be more flexible with her time and allows her to take care of her family in the evenings. If she is busy, she can turn off the app without being tied down.

But more importantly, according to Ms. Thu, it's the feeling of being respected. Previously, domestic helpers living with their employers had to do all sorts of chores, big and small, and had to "watch their employers' moods" to survive. Now, she only takes on specific tasks and is paid per shift. "If there's work that requires overtime, the app will notify me, and the client must agree to pay extra," Ms. Thu said.

Initially, Ms. Thu's income was only about 5.5 million VND/month because she had a new account and wasn't assigned many tasks. Thanks to diligently taking on distant orders and receiving high praise from customers, she was promoted from "junior bee" to "queen bee" - the highest rank on the app. Therefore, even at 50 years old, Ms. Thu says her income is a steady 22-24 million VND/month, not including tips from customers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang (43 years old, residing in Binh Thanh District) also chooses to work 8-9 hours a day, equivalent to 3 shifts, earning approximately 15 million VND/month after deducting 20% ​​commission fees for the application.

She recounted an incident where a client in District 2 (formerly) was very impressed and offered her a full-time job with a salary of 10 million VND per month, including food and accommodation, but she immediately refused. "I earn more working through the app. More importantly, I don't have to live with the owner, serve from morning till night, or worry about anyone's moods to make a living," Ms. Trang confidently stated.

According to a representative from bTaskee (one of the popular apps currently available), since the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for hourly cleaning services has increased sharply, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), sometimes by as much as 40%.

"Customers want a fast, transparent service and a quality experience. They appreciate the convenience of being able to book whenever they need," a bTaskee representative said.

The job-helper app market is becoming increasingly competitive.

The hourly cleaning service market is more vibrant than ever with the participation of many "big players" in the technology sector.

Recently, the ride-hailing app Be launched its "be Housekeeping" service, focusing on house cleaning and planning to expand to comprehensive cleaning and in-depth tidying. Be offers prices 10,000-20,000 VND lower than bTaskee, does not increase prices on weekends, and applies a 22-30% discount to workers.

bTaskee is leveraging its competitive advantage with a network covering 20 provinces and cities, committed to providing fast service. A bTaskee representative stated that the company has established a vocational training center for domestic helpers, aiming to professionalize the industry with specialized services such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare.

In addition, the app also implements insurance and benefits policies to attract workers. bTaskee says it is planning to expand into Southeast Asian markets, targeting countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Competitive market, with promotions.

According to a representative from the bTaskee app, not only affluent families in major cities, but also young customers, particularly young families around 30 years old who are busy focusing on their careers, are familiar customers.

Besides Be and bTaskee, the market for domestic helper apps is also vibrant with the participation of many other applications such as JupViec.vn, GiupViecTot, Okiaf... with prices ranging from 75,000 - 85,000 VND/hour, reduced to 69,000 - 80,000 VND/hour for customers who book for a recurring period of 1-3 months.

Beware of new conveniences and old troubles.

While apps offer convenience, this method also carries risks. Many consumers have expressed concerns about losing valuable items when hiring domestic help through apps.

Many people argue that because domestic helpers are hired on a per-job basis, without long-term commitment, monitoring them is more difficult. Some have reported that even after reporting lost items on the app, the resolution has been unsatisfactory.

In addition, many users shared that domestic helpers are not always dedicated to their work, and that they need constant supervision.

"Some people do a sloppy job, collecting payment as soon as the work is done. When they receive a low rating, they often beg for payment," one user shared.

Many consumers have advised each other to choose reputable apps and not be careless to avoid trouble and losses.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dat-giup-viec-nha-qua-app-chu-nha-bot-chi-phi-nguoi-lam-het-thoi-o-do-20250303084632715.htm