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Employing a maid??? You may want to read the following frequently asked questions to know more information.
Full-time and Part-time Maid
NetMaid has about 15,000 maid bio-data from about 200 maid agencies. Click here to search maids' bio-data. All the maids available here are represented by respective maid agency. You may want to indicate your preference for maid agency, nationality, type (new or transfer) and other criteria. Once you have shortlist your maids based on your selection criteria, you can request maid agencies to contact you, or you can contact the appropriate maid agency directly.
Bio-data for part-time maid is not available on NetMaid. However, there are companies that specialize on providing part-time maids, please click here, tell them your requirements, and they will contact you.
Most of the maid agencies in Singapore focus only on the Singapore market. However, here are some of the agencies that may be able to help you: If you live in USA, you can find some very useful information on the immigrations procedures for getting a live-in maid here http://www.immigrationforms.com/live-in.htm.
Maid Agencies
Most maid agencies provide comprehensive services to assist you in employing a maid. A maid agency usually takes all the hassles of Work Permit application, security bond, insurance, travel arrangement, medical screening, etc. away from you. However, please check with individual maid agency for their pricing, service package and details.
The most updated list of license maid agencies in Singapore is maintained by MOM (Ministry of Manpower), click here.
According to MOM published statistics as of Dec-2014, they are more than 1100 licensed maid agencies in Singapore.
There are less than 600 maid agencies that are active, i.e. placing at least an average of 1 maid per month over the last 12 months.
According to MOM published statistics as of Dec-2014, there are about 240 maid agencies.
There were more than 100,000 maids from all nationalities placed by various maid agencies in the last 12 months.
MOM does not publish the breakdown of maids placed by maid agencies according to nationalities.
Some Important Information
No, you can only employ maid from MOM (Ministry of Manpower) approved source of countries for MDW (Migrant Domestic Workers). The countries are: Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.
Employer is responsible for the repatriation of the maid. You are required to post a security deposit (bond) of $5,000 per maid with the Work Permit Department, MOM. If you fail to repatriate the maid after cancellation of her work permit, you risk losing the $5,000 security deposit (bond).
Yes, you can purchase an insurance policy with various options from Etiqa, Anda, NTUC Income, and others to avoid making the $5,000 deposit. However, you may (depending on the insurance package and options you purchase) still be liable for the $5,000 if you fail to repatriate the maid.
Employers are required to purchase personal accident insurance coverage for the maid, the minimum sum insured is $10,000. You can purchase such insurance with various options at the following:
Within 14 days of your maid arrival to Singapore, she must undergo a medical examination, and certified fit. Thereafter, the maid is required to undergo six-monthly medical screening, for VDRL, pregnancy, and HIV.
Yes, as an Employer, you are required to bear the full cost of the medical care, including hospitalization. It is advisable to have insurance coverage for hospitalization expenses for your maid. Depending on the options you choose when purchasing personal accident insurance coverage, it may have been included. If not, you can always contact the following insurance companies like Etiqa, Anda, or NTUC Income.
In general, if you have not employed a maid before, you must attend a 4-hour Employers' Orientation Programme before you submit your Work Permit application for your maid.
Only if you have valid reasons, for example, medical reason or disability. In this case, you must submit a form to exempt from taking the Programme.
Currently, PSB Corporation and Singapore Polytechnic conduct the Programme. Singapore Polytechnic also offers an on-line version of the Programme.
Offenses committed by Employers (Extracted from MOM Guide)
  • In March 2002, an employer received a five-year jail term for abusing her19-year-old MDW. For over 20 days, the employer scalded the MDW with boiling water, poked her thighs with a pair of scissors and hit the back of her head with the back of a chopper.
  • In July 2002, an employer who physically abused his MDW and caused her death was sentenced to 18 years in prison and 12 lashes of the cane. At her death, the MDW was found to have multiple scars and injuries.
  • In July 2006, an employer was fined $2,000 for asking her MDW to climb and prune a 6-metre mango tree in her yard.
  • In October 2004, an employer who failed to pay her MDW for almost two years was fined $3,000. She was also ordered by the court to pay her MDW the outstanding salary owed to her, which amounted to $3,580.
  • In September 2006, an employer instructed her MDW to climb out of the window of her 18th storey apartment and stand on a narrow ledge to clean the windows. The employer was convicted for breach of the Work Permit Conditions and fined $3,500.
  • In September 2005, an employer deployed her MDW to help out at her food stall from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Friday. The MDW's duties at the stall included serving customers, collecting money from customers and packing food. The employer was charged for illegal deployment and fined $3,000. Her security deposit of $5,000 was also forfeited.
  • In February 2006, an MDW fell eight stories to her death when hanging laundry on a narrow ledge. The employer claimed that it was her mother-in-law who had instructed the MDW to climb onto the ledge. The court rejected her claim and ruled that as the legal employer, she should bear the "ultimate responsibility" for the MDW's safety. The employer was sentenced to two weeks in jail.
Other Useful Information
The Levy is $300 per month for first maid, levy for subsequent maid is $450 per month, concessionary levy rate is $60 per month. CPF Board, as the collection agent, collects the Levy on behalf of MOM. For further details on whether you qualify for levy concession, click here.
You can claim tax relief if:

1. you are a married woman and has elected for separate assessment; or
2. you are married and your husband is not resident in Singapore; or
3. you are separated or divorced or widowed and living with your unmarried child for whom you can claim child relief.

The relief is two times the amount of maid levy paid for one maid. It can only be set off against the earned income of the wife. Single taxpayers are not eligible for this relief. You can get the relief even if the levy is paid by the husband.
Yes, you can get refund for the maid-levy paid for the period your maid is not in Singapore. You can go to any CPF branch, and produce your maid's passport to support your claim for refund.
No, the employer need not do so unless this is provided for in the employment contract.
Your maid would like to send her monthly salary back to her family regularly. Click here to find out who can provide remittance services.
Ministry of Manpower Guidelines
Standard Contracts
Skills Training
Elementary Baby Care
Sunlove Home, 89 Hougang Ave 4, Tel: 6386-0274

Elderly Care (Elementary)
Sunlove Home, 89 Hougang Ave 4, Tel: 6386-0274

Elderly Care (Advanced)
Sunlove Home, 89 Hougang Ave 4, Tel: 6386-0274

Vegetarian Cooking
Sunlove Home, 70 Buagkok View, Tel: 6343-7464

Chinese Cooking
FAST, Toa Payoh Central CC, Tel: 6419-2745

Windows, Word, Excel
Asia Innovatory Management School, 50 Collyer Quay, Tel: 6227-5464

Basic Computing and Internet
NTUC Learning Hub, 10 Anson Road, Tel: 6372-3972

Guitar and Piano
Le Classique Music Studio, 304 Orchard Road, Tel: 6734-6448
Settling-In Programme (SIP)

The SIP is a mandatory one day programme for all first-time MDWs, prior to deployment. The SIP aims to better orientate and equip MDWs with basic knowledge about living and working in Singapore. It includes modules on:

  • Introduction to Singapore;
  • Conditions of employment;
  • Safety at home;
  • Safety in other areas; and
  • Relationship and stress management

The Safety Awareness Course will be subsumed under the SIP. The SIP will be conducted in the MDW's native language, to maximize understanding and retention.

A first-time MDW is one who:

  • Has no employment record with MOM's Work Pass Division; or
  • Has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit cards previously. This includes Migrant Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.

The SIP will better orientate first-time MDWs by equipping them with basic knowledge about living and working in Singapore. This will include modules on how to manage stress and adapt to working in a foreign, urban environment. These will help MDWs adapt better to working in local households and foster better working relationships with their employers. First-time MDWs must attend the SIP within three working days of their arrival in Singapore, excluding the day of arrival.

Working days are Monday to Saturday, excluding Sunday and Public holiday.

The SIP costs $75 (including GST) per MDW. The cost of the SIP will be borne by the MDW employer.

The Ministry of Manpower has accredited two training providers to conduct the SIP, and they are:

The details of the respective training providers are as follows:

  • Grace Management And Consultancy Services Pte Ltd (GMCS), working in partnership with the Migrant Domestic Worker Association for Skills Training
  • Venue:
    231 Mountbatten Road
    Block A #03-00
    Singapore 397999
    (Enter via Guillemard Crescent)
    Tel: (65) 6299 4333
    Email: gracemgt@gmcs.com.sg
    Webpage: http://gmcs.com.sg/etsac
  • ECON Careskill Training Centre (ECTC) Pte Ltd
  • Venue:
    451 Yio Chu Kang Road
    Singapore 805947
    Tel: (65) 6853 3727
    Email: enquiry@econcareskill.com
    Webpage: http://www.econcareskill.com/SIP

The Work Permit system keeps a record of employers and their employment history. The system will identify which Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) are new to Singapore. Employers and Employment Agencies (Eas) will be informed of this requirement in the 'Letter of Notification to bring MDW into Singapore'.

Employers can check if their MDW is required to attend the SIP via WP Online.

The SIP is conducted in the MDWs' native languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia, Myanmese and Tagalog. SIP will also be conducted in English. You may wish to check with the training providers on the schedules for the SIP classes.

All first-time MDWs are required to attend the mandatory SIP within the first three working days of arrival in Singapore, excluding the day of arrival.Working days are from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sunday and Public holiday.

A first-time MDW is one who:

  • Has no employment record with MOM's Work Pass Division; or
  • Has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit cards previously. This includes Migrant Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.

As the SIP is a mandatory programme, no first-time MDWs will be exempted. The SIP is focused on adapting MDWs to working and living in a foreign environment, especially on observing work safety. MDWs will also learn about their rights and responsibilities while working in Singapore, as well as relationship and stress management. The SIP will help MDWs be better oriented and adjusted when starting work at your household, which can help reduce conflicts and accidents at the workplace.

MDWs who fail to attend the SIP within three working days of arrival in Singapore, excluding the day of arrival, will not be issued their Work Permits and will be repatriated.

Working days are Monday to Saturday, excluding Sunday and Public holiday.

If your MDW is a first-time MDW in Singapore, she is required to attend the SIP.

A first-time MDW is one who:

  • Has no employment record with MOM's Work Pass Division; or
  • Has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit cards previously. This includes Migrant Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.

The SIP is focused on adapting MDWs to working and living in a foreign environment, especially on observing work safety. MDWs will also learn about their rights and responsibilities while working in Singapore, as well as relationship and stress management. The SIP will help MDWs be better oriented and adjusted when starting work at your household, which can help reduce conflicts and accidents at the workplace.

Registration for the SIP must be done before the arrival of the MDW into Singapore. Registration can be done online at either one of the two accredited training providers' websites:

No. From 1 May 2012, all first-time MDWs in Singapore will attend the SIP. The SIP will replace the Entry Test, and the SAC will be subsumed under the SIP.

A first-time MDW is one who:

  • Has no employment record with MOM's Work Pass Division; or
  • Has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit cards previously. This includes Migrant Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.
Other FAQs