Live-in helpers?

We are moving to Tokyo next year and I am interested in finding out about live-in maid services. Can someone give me an idea of standard hours worked, work you can expect the maid to do, pay rates (is there a minimum wage requirement set by the government for expample), legal requirements, where I can get information on the process of applying for and employing a maid etc. I am assuming that for a live-in maid the employer pays for food and toiletries? Also, am I correct in assuming that if a maid is to live-in with a family then she cannot legally work for another family? We currently employ a full time live-in maid in Singapore but I am seeking guidance as to how this is done in Japan. My husband's visa will allow us to sponsor a helper.

In addition I would be interested in knowing the same information for a live-out maid to work approximately 20 hours a week.

thanks

Japan does not have a culture of employing live-in domestic help. You will most likely be able to employ part-time help at an hourly rate of 1500 yen per hour.

www.tokyowithkids.com would the place to find this sort of information.

good luck

I can't find many recent posts on Tokyo with kids - it doesn't seem to be terribly active and I know visa information has changed recently. Does anyone know?

Papasolk,

Tokyo With Kids has been slow for a while due to a serious spam problem, but it has now revived thanks to a renewal of the system and is starting to get lively again. Try posting a question and see where it goes.

Also, Tilt seems to have dug out a thread that might interest you.
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+16751