Singapore Expats

Dear all,

My wife and I are planning to hire a domestic helper. We are both EP holders in Singapore. May I ask what I should know before hiring a one? I understand that there will be a foreign worker levy to be paid to the government. My specific questions would be:
1. Should I hire via an agency or hire a transferred helpers?
2. Anything I need to be aware of with regards to the different nationalities of the helpers?
3. Anything I should be aware of in terms of costs, beside the salary and the foreign worker levy?
4. What would happen when we decide we no longer require their help?
5. Anything you think I should be aware of?

Thank you very much!

I've had experience hiring for 20 years so let me share my experience

1. Should I hire via an agency or hire a transferred helpers?

I used to do via agency but now I'have done it thru direct hiring on FB groups. The problem sometimes with transferred helpers is that they are being transferred for bad performance and you don't know cos they won't say. (not all but definitely some).

2. Anything I need to be aware of with regards to the different nationalities of the helpers?

The hiring process is different for different countries.

For Indonesian helpers, you need to engage an indonesian agency to go thru the whole process else the helper wil not be able to pass thru Indo immigration. I had mine turned away several times cos they said no agency.

For Myanmar, they can get refused by the army. So it depends on their luck and passport type.


3. Anything I should be aware of in terms of costs, beside the salary and the foreign worker levy?

if you are doing thru agency then fees are payable on Singapore agency and their country agency (fees).

You'll also need to pay for the work permit application and insurance for 2 yrs.

6 monthly medical check up and regular dr fees is also borne by the employers

Other cost also include food and accommodation for helper (she'll stay with you)


4. What would happen when we decide we no longer require their help?

If you're under agency then she'll still have a loan to pay off to agency So you'll need to do a transfer.


5. Anything you think I should be aware of?

If you're doing a direct hire, please do video calls to see how she speaks and her demeanor. Our sixth sense do help. I do not believe those in writing their resumes since they all look the same so video calls works best for me.

Good luck!

No fraternization with men permitted. Set expectations on the use of phones while in your home. Firm on pay days - no advances.

And no tiktok helpers!

And lately there had been a lot of complaints from employers that their helpers borrow money from illegal moneylenders and then share all their employers and children personal info, and employers get haunted by these moneylenders..have to be careful.

There are lots of transfer helpers on facebook groups but they can be kind of shady. You may find better luck at https://www.employhelpers.com by sorting their Ministry of Manpower - verified employment helpers.

Transfer helpers can save both you and the helper thousands of dollars. We should not expect helpers to get into months of debt simply by taking up employment with us.

Here are a few off the top of my head:

1. Set a routine schedule for them to follow so that expectations are clear.

2. Expect them to sneak food and sneak out, this will almost certainly happen eventually, no matter how much food or freedom you give.

3. If you wanna lock your bedroom when you go out, do it from day one, otherwise later it will seem like you suddenly don’t trust them.

4. If you wanna check their luggage just before they balik kampung (go back) to see whether they stole anything, better set that expectation upfront.

5. Be generous a bit lah, just because you don’t have to, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t - especially small stuff like toiletries, holiday bonus, or when you get outside food - consider sharing a little with them… a little means a lot.

6. If you want to retain them and keep them motivated, you need to give them an annual increment, suggest minimum 5% if performance is good.

7. Phone usage: when and how much will you accept during working hours? This can be a big issue. Set it clearly from the start.

Let me address the rest of the questions

2. Anything I need to be aware of with regards to the different nationalities of the helpers?

If you want to eat pork or have them handle dogs, you should be aware that some Muslim helpers may not want to handle pork or your dogs.

Filipinos tend to have better standard of english, followed by indonesians, then Burmese.

3. Anything I should be aware of in terms of costs, beside the salary and the foreign worker levy?

You need to buy insurance + security bond (which will be handled by agency if you choose to hire them), as well as send the maid for a mandatory doctor checkup every 6 months (~$50).

You will have to pay for their air tickets back home at the end of the contract or if you wish to terminate them. Unless your agency works out a different sum with you (if you hire one).

4. What would happen when we decide we no longer require their help?

Either send them to agency or send them home. Contract states that you have to pay for airfare either at end of contract or early termination.

5. Anything you think I should be aware of?
Set ground rules early. Discuss with your spouse what are non-negotiables and negotiables for your helper. Have a recurring calendar / reminders. Our family uses an Ipad to set recurring events for the helper to know of the chores. Otherwise, you can print it out as well.

I was quite blessed (spoiled?) with a helper day one upon arriving in Singapore. For the first 5 years I was always given the option of paying a little extra ($50-80 per month) for maid service with my room rentals, and then after marriage and our firstborn we had our own maid throughout. Most maids are decent and reasonable, but there will always be a few bad apples in any orchard, of course.