Frequently Asked Questions

Regulations of The Ministry of Manpower for every employer

• Employer must provide proper accommodation and rest days

• Purchase mandatory medical and personal accident insurance

• Pay the monthly levy

• Comply with Work Permit conditions

What is the eligibility and requirement for hiring a foreign domestic helper?
To hire a foreign domestic helper, you must be 21 years old and above, must not be an undischarged bankrupt and must have the mental capacity to fully understand and discharge the responsibility as an employer.

The levy concession for 1 foreign domestic worker is granted based on 1 eligible person in the household. It is capped at 2 foreign domestic worker per household. When you are no longer eligible for levy concession or your number of helpers changes, the levy rate may be adjusted. The new rate takes effect immediately.

To find out how to apply for the levy concession, please visit this link.

The Ministry of Manpower will also consider your financial ability to hire, maintain and upkeep the helper in an acceptable accommodation.

To find out more, please visit this link.

What is the rate for foreign domestic helper levy?
As an employer, you do not have to pay Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for your helper. However, you must pay a monthly levy for her. If your helper is a first-time foreign domestic worker, the levy will begin on the 5th day of her arrival (including the arrival date). Otherwise, the levy will begin the next day after she arrives. The levy ends when the Work Permit is cancelled or expires.

To find out the latest levy rates, please visit this link.

Who is qualified for a levy concession?
Employers living with any of the following eligible person who is a Singaporean can get a concessionary rate of $60 per month:

• Young child below 16 years old

• Elderly person who is at least 67 years old

• Person with disabilities

How do I pay the levy?
You must pay the levy via General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO). The levy for each month will be deducted from your bank account on the 17th of the following month (or the next working day if it falls on a weekend or public holiday).

Your helper’s Work Permit will be revoked, if you don’t pay the full levy on time.

If you need to pay levy using other methods, you must pay the levy for each month by the 14th of the following month.

Rest days, health and well-being for migrant domestic workers.

Starting 1 January 2023, it is mandatory for all employers to provide their domestic helper with at least one rest day each month that cannot be compensated away. Employers must compensate your domestic helper with either at least 1 day’s salary or a replacement rest day taken within the same month in cases where she works on the remaining rest days in the month.

Learn more about domestic helper’s rest day here.

What is a security bond?

A security bond is to ensure the employer and helper does not violate the government law or work permit conditions. Employers must buy a $5,000 security bond before your helper’s arrival in Singapore and you are not allowed to make your helper pay.
A security bond is a binding pledge to pay the government (up to $5000) if you break the law or the conditions governing the employment of a helper.

You are required to post a security deposit (bond) of $5,000 for every helper you employ unless she is a Malaysian.

Bonds usually take the form of insurance. The insurers guarantee to pay the government should you break the rules; then the insurers pursue you for the money. It is recommended to buy Waiver of Counter-Indemnity which is already included in our all of FWD package. Rest assure, ease of mind!

Are employers responsible for domestic helper’s medical expenses?

As an Employer, you are required to bear all cost of domestic helper’s medical needs, including hospitalization and provide her with medical and personal accident insurance. You are not allowed to make your helper pay for her medical expenses.

You are encouraged to buy insurance with a higher coverage to protect yourself from any excessive medical bills.

The foreign domestic helper need to pass a medical examination by a Singapore-registered doctor within 2 weeks of her arrival in Singapore.

Her Work Permit will only be issued if she passes the medical examination. Otherwise, she will have to be sent home.

The medical examination screens the helper for 4 types of infectious disease (tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis and malaria) and checks if she is fit to work.

During your foreign helper's employment, you must send her for a medical screening every six months.

Insurance

You need to buy medical and personal accident insurance for your helper before she arrives in Singapore, as part of your medical obligations to her.
To understand insurance requirement for your helper, please visit this link.

Personal accident insurance with a minimum coverage of $60,000 for your helper. This is to protect your helper and her family by providing a lump sum compensation if she suffers from permanent disability or passes away due to an accident. The compensation must be made payable to your helper or her beneficiaries.

Homie Trust works with a reputable insurance company to ensure peace of mind for you and your helper.

When should I pay the helper salary?

You must pay your helper her salary every month, no later than 7 days after the last day of the salary period. We will guide you along during the deployment briefing.
To understand more, please visit this link.

How to open a bank account for my foreign domestic worker ?

You can help your FWD:

• Open a POSB Payroll Account when you get her Work Permit issued. (Click here to open POSB payroll account)

• Open an account with another bank. (T&C applies accordance to different bank)

If her account is opened using POSB Payroll Account method, no initial minimum deposit will be required.

Who should pay for the MDW’s air ticket when she is returning to her source country?

The employer must buy a direct air ticket to the international airport in the helper’s home country, nearest to her hometown. The employer must pay for the air ticket and it must include check-in luggage. The departure date must be within 2 weeks of the cancellation of her work permit.

What happens if I encounter problems after hiring ?

We provide free counselling services to talk to your domestic helper in order to identify and solve the problems.

Renewal and termination of foreign domestic worker's Work Permit

Homie Trust is a Singapore maid agency offering reminders and guidance on contract renewal. And if needed to terminate, we deal with paperwork and make sure you are in line with MOM guidelines.

Does Homie Trust help with Work Permit renewals?
We provide proactive reminders 2 months before expiry and offer full guidance through the renewal process to ensure zero service disruptions.

What happens if I need to cancel a Work Permit?

We manage the entire transition for you. From handling the administrative paperwork to ensuring full alignment with the Ministry of Manpower guidelines, we make the exit process stress-free and compliant.

First time Employer

If this is your first time hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW), the Ministry of Manpower requires you to complete a one-time Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP).

Why is this mandatory? It ensures you understand your legal roles and responsibilities as an employer in Singapore.

The Details:

* Format: 100% Online (takes about 3 hours).

* Cost: $35 (payable to the training provider).

* When to do it: You must complete the EOP at least 2 working days before we can submit your helper's Work Permit application.

* Official Link: Click here to register for the MOM EOP

Pro-Tip: Once you finish the course, please download the Certificate of Attendance and send a copy to us at Homie Trust so we can proceed with your application immediately!