Frequently asked questions
There is no specified amount. It is assessed based on the type of application:
- For married couples, you can combine your income with your spouse's
- For the Joint Income Scheme, you can combine the income of family members who are living together
- For people aged 60 years or older, you can apply under the Sponsorship Scheme
Yes, with the following conditions:
- Singapore citizen or permanent resident who are age 60 and above are able to apply for a maid based on the income of up to 2 sponsors.
- Sponsors must be family member who are not staying with employer.
- The employer must not be earn any income or stay with any working adults.
- The employer must have the mental capacity to understand his/her responsibility as an employer.
Yes. The applicant needs to provide the following:
- Passport
- Work pass or spouse's Long-Term Pass
- Child's birth certificate or student pass(for Long Term Visit Pass holders)
- Income Tax Notice of Assessment for the current or previous assessment year
The applicant will be assessed based on eligibility such as:
- He/She must be 21 years old and above.
- He/She cannot be an undischarged bankrupt.
- He/She must be earning a steady source of income.
The applicant needs to have any of these family members living with him/her:
- At least 2 children below 18 years old.
- A parent or parent-in-law over 60 years old.
It is a 3-hour programme for employers to understand their role and responsibilities.
First time employers and existing employers who have employed more than 3 different Maid within a 12-month period must complete the EOP before they can apply for a Maid.
It is between 2 weeks to 8 weeks, depending on factors such as the nationality of the Maid, passport status, etc.
Transfer maid is a Maid who is already in Singapore under the employment of another employer and is seeking for a new employer.
The costs are as shown:
- One-time placement fee charged by the agency for sourcing and bringing in the Maid.
- Maid's IPA, security bond, medical, SIP, insurance, work permit application and Covid-19 related cost.
- Maid's monthly salary, levy and half yearly medical checkup.
- Maid's repatriation cost.
Employers are required to place a S$5,000 security bond in the form of a banker's guarantee for the Maid he/she wants to employ.
The bond is required by the Government of Singapore.
It is used to ensure that both the employer and Maid comply with the conditions of the Work Permit.
The Settling-In-Programme (SIP) is a 1-day orientation programme for first-time FDWs to educate them on safety precautions and living in Singapore.
The Maid levy is a pricing mechanism by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to regulate the number of foreign workers in Singapore.
Employers of Maid must pay a monthly levy of S$265 or concessionary rate of S$60.
Levy concession are available to:
- Employers living with a citizen child, age 16 years old or below.
- Employers is a citizen or permanent resident, age 65 years and above.
- The employer must not be earn any income or stay with any working adults.
- Employers living with a person who requires permanent assistance with ADL.
Employers with a family member who requires permanent assistance with 3 or more ADLs, may qualify for a monthly grant of S$120.
( More information is available on the AIC’s Singapore Silver Pages website. )
The Maid is entitled to a weekly rest day as per MOM guideline.
If Maid agrees to work on her rest day, the employer must compensate her with 1 day’s salary per off day.*
*To avoid dispute, this agreement should be in writing.
From 1 January 2019, employers are not allowed to keep Maid’s salary, money, bank card and bank book belonging to her, even if she requests it.
Employers must pay for Maid’s salary as long as she is employed by the employer, even when she is sent back to the agency for training.
The employer is liable to pay the full cost of medical expenses, including hospitalization.
The employer is required by MOM to buy medical
insurance for the Maid, with a minimum cover of S$15,000 for inpatient care and day surgery.
The employer is liable to pay the full cost of medical expenses, including hospitalization.
The employer is required by MOM to buy medical
insurance for the Maid, with a minimum cover of S$15,000 for inpatient care and day surgery.
The following steps should be taken:
- The employer should try to look for the Maid and inform the employment agency.
- The employer must file a police report if he/she fails to locate the Maid within 24 hours.
- The employer will have one month to find and repatriate the Maid*.
The employer is liable to pay the full cost of medical expenses, including hospitalization.
The employer is required by MOM to buy medical
insurance for the Maid, with a minimum cover of S$15,000 for inpatient care and day surgery.
Under MOM’s regulations, FDWs cannot be pregnant or give birth in Singapore.
Employers should repatriate the Maid back to her country of origin as soon as possible*
* Falling to do so will result in the S$5,000 security bond being forfeited
No, the employer need not do so unless this is provided for in the employment contract.
Employers are not allowed to make the Maid pay for her medical expenses. This includes medical expenses that are above what the insurance pays.
Employers are encouraged to buy insurance
with a higher coverage to protect themselves from any excessive medical bills.
Employers can submit requests to MOM and have to ensure that the Work Permit has not expired and the Maid is still in Singapore.
If approved, employers need to pay a $35 transaction fee.
The Maid levy will be charged from the date of cancellation.
Employers and Maid should mutually agree on who should pay for the passport renewal.
This should be decided preferably at the start of her employment and stated in the employment contract.
Yes.
Employers have to submit an application 30 days before the work permit expires*.
*The extension will be up to one month.
When the Maid’s contract ends, employers need to buy a direct air ticket
including check-in luggage to the international airport of the Maid’s hometown or nearest to her hometown.
If transit is required, the employer should give sufficient allowance for Maid to sustain herself during her transit.
Employers are responsible for the cost of sending their Maid home even if the contract has not ended.
Employers should book the Maid on another flight home and login to WPOL to extend her special pass and change her departure date.
