Hiring a domestic helper can come with many questions, especially if you are employing one for the first time. This FAQ answers common questions about hiring a maid in Singapore. It covers costs, MOM requirements, work permits, replacements and other important matters employers should know.
If you’re hiring a domestic helper for the first time, here are the key steps to get started:
Check your eligibility. You must be at least 21 years old, not be an undischarged bankrupt, have the mental capacity to fulfil your responsibilities as an employer, and have sufficient financial ability to support a helper.
Complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP). First-time employers must complete the EOP before applying for a Work Permit, unless exempted by MOM.
Identify your household needs. Consider whether you need assistance with childcare, elderly care, infant care or general housekeeping, and the experience and skills you’re looking for in a helper.
Engage a licensed employment agency. An experienced agency like Assured Employment can help you select a suitable helper, arrange interviews, handle the necessary paperwork and guide you through the hiring process.
The Employers’ Orientation Programme is a 3-hour programme that will help you understand your role and responsibilities as an employer of a domestic helper. First-time employers must complete the EOP at least 2 working days before submitting a Work Permit application. You can take the EOP either in the classroom or online.
You can register through an MOM-appointed EOP training provider. Depending on the provider and eligibility, courses may be available online or in person. Visit the MOM EOP information page for registration details.
First-time employers may qualify for an EOP exemption under certain circumstances, including:
Having a chronic medical condition.
Having a physical disability that prevents them from walking.
Being 60 years old or above and experiencing physical discomfort.
Being an expectant mother or having given birth within the past month.
Having a spouse or former spouse who has previously employed a domestic helper, subject to MOM’s requirements.
Depending on the circumstances, MOM may allow an eligible spouse, sponsor or representative to fulfil the EOP requirement on the employer’s behalf.
Yes, you may still be eligible to employ a domestic helper even if you are not working. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will assess your financial ability to support the helper. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify through your spouse’s income, personal savings or fixed deposits, or under MOM’s Joint Income or Sponsorship Scheme. Approval is subject to MOM’s assessment and eligibility requirements.
Employers’ income is one of the main ways MOM assess Work Permit applications for domestic helpers. Married couples can combine their incomes in the application. Alternatively, employers can apply under the Joint Income or Sponsorship Scheme.
To qualify for the Sponsorship Scheme, you must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, 60 years old and above, not earning an income and not staying with any working adults. Your children, children’s spouse, your grandchildren, grandchildren’s spouse or your siblings can be your sponsor.
In order to apply for a second domestic helper, the employer or spouse must be at least 60 years old or there are at least 2 children below 18 years old and living with the employer. Alternatively, the employer can also apply if he/she has a parent or parent-in-law who is at least 60 years old and living with them in the same address. MOM will also look at the financial ability of the employer to hire, maintain and upkeep the helpers in an acceptable accommodation.
As an employer, you must ensure that your domestic helper’s accommodation have adequate shelter, sufficient ventilation, is safe and has adequate space and privacy.
You must minimally provide your domestic helper with a mattress, pillow, blanket, bathroom amenities and toiletries. Examples of toiletries include soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
Yes but you must first notify MOM , obtain your helper’s written agreement to take care of your child or parent at the relative’s house before you proceed with this arrangement. You will also need to ensure that your helper does not perform the full load of housework in both households.
Yes, but you will need to seek approval before doing so. If you are leaving your helper with your friend or relative, you must ensure that the person you’re leaving her with can take care of her well-being, and does not deploy her for work. An online request must be submitted at least 7 working days before your trip and the information includes the name, address and relationship of the person your domestic helper will be staying with, name of EA or dormitory operator, duration, dates of her stay.
Yes you can hire directly from the agent who is overseas, but the risk is high. Firstly, you may not know the overseas agents and they may need you to transfer fees like loan or deposit to them before the helper arrives. These payments are not protected when the helper decides not come to Singapore. When you engage a licenced agency in Singapore, they work with the overseas agents they have known for a long period of time. More importantly the employers are protected since they have a signed agreement with agreed terms with the agency they engage. Hiring through an agency also give you a peace of mind since they are there to help is any problems arise before and after deployment.
Yes. The agency can assist you on that before the domestic helper is deployed to you. You will need to inform the agency in advance that a bank account is required before they issue the work permit. Otherwise, the employer need to apply for the account online themselves.
According to MOM, employer are to bear the cost of sending the domestic helper back home when the employment relationship ends. Check-in luggage and any connecting transport costs to the international port of entry in her home country/region nearest to her hometown must be included in ticket purchased.
From 1 January 2023, MOM requires all employers to provide their domestic helpers with at least one rest day a month that cannot be compensated away to work instead even if the helper is willing.
Employers are not allowed to make any deductions to penalise her for performance issues or for damaging household equipment.
Employers are not allow to safe-keep the domestic helper’s salary or any of her money, even if she requests for it. It is an offence to do so.
