Resources

The extra help domestic helpers can provide makes them an indispensable addition to your household. You will be able to relax and take a breather, knowing that the cleaning and cooking are being taken care of. Particularly for families with children or elderly, it can take the weight off your shoulders if you have been juggling with work and family all at once. You will also be able to spend more time with your family and friends.

With about 250,000 Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) in Singapore coming from MOM-approved sources of countries, there are various options to consider when it comes to finding the right match for your household. We have previously put together a mini guide on Indonesian and Myanmar domestic helpers and in this article, we rounded up some pointers on domestic helpers from Mizoram (a state in Northeast India) and the Philippines.  

Mizoram Foreign Domestic Workers

Communication

Mizoram has one of the highest literacy rates in India. While Mizo and Hindi are the official languages, English is also widely used in their everyday lives. Having a common language is an important factor to ensure a smooth, comfortable working experience for everyone. In this case, you can rest assured that communication between you and your Mizoram domestic helper will be less of a barrier. 

Dietary habits

When hiring a domestic helper for your family, it is important to keep in mind that she may not be able to eat certain foods due to her religious beliefs. Most Mizoram domestic helpers are Christians, and they are not restricted to certain dietary requirements unless it is based on their personal preferences. However, if your domestic helper has to become accustomed to your family’s dietary requirements such as vegetarian food, it is highly recommended that you check this through with her first. For religious purposes, consider allowing her to attend Sunday service at a church when deciding on her weekly rest days.

Personality

With a population comprising several tribal groups, Mizoram is rich in traditions and culture. Mizoram domestic helpers come from a close-knit community and treasure kinship.  Generally known to be friendly, they are also more self-confident and independent individuals by nature. These are crucial qualities when it comes to integrating her into your family. Once she assimilates the way things work in your household, you can trust that she is capable of handling things efficiently when you are not around.     

Filipino Foreign Domestic Workers

Dedicated workers

Their love for learning and trying out new things makes it easier for Filipino domestic helpers to take on a wide range of tasks in no time. Though they have received training at their respective agencies, this would still be beneficial for you as you teach her the ropes around your household. They also have a relatively good command of English and will be able to connect with children and elderly alike. These qualities are some of the reasons why Filipino domestic helpers remain a highly sought-after choice for many households in Singapore. 

Dietary habits

A large number of Filipino domestic helpers are Christians. Again, it is highly recommended that you check with her on any dietary preferences. Like Mizoram, she might want to spend her weekly rest days attending Sunday service at church. You can discuss her weekly rest days during her contract negotiation.

Personality

Domestic helpers from the Philippines are known for their great personalities and being family-oriented, treating their employer’s family as if it is their own. You can have peace of mind that they are doing their best for your family and tending to your home with care.

Quick Guide to Hiring a Mizoram or Filipino Domestic Helper

With a better understanding of the different characteristics between a Mizoram and Filipino domestic helper, you can do a better matching based on your household requirements. Do note that there are some regulations and procedures from the source countries that you will have to comply to. Here are some tips to guide you along.

• Salary

The monthly salary of a foreign domestic helper can vary, depending on their work experience, skills and capabilities. According to the Philippine embassy, the salary of Filipino domestic helpers should start from a minimum of around S$580 per month. There are no such salary requirements for Mizoram domestic workers by their embassy but the market rate is around S$460-S$500 per month. The more skilled and experienced domestic helpers will command a correspondingly higher salary. It is encouraged that they get at least one rest day off in a month.

• Eligibility Criteria for Domestic Helpers

In Singapore, domestic helpers come from MOM’s approved source countries. All domestic helpers must comply to the eligibility requirements set out by MOM.

For domestic helpers from the Philippines, there are additional requirements: employers must use the standard employment contract issued by the Philippines government and sign it at the local embassy. They must also buy additional security bond which is on top of the bond required by MOM. 

We hope the mini-series on the different characteristics of domestic helpers from Indonesia, Myanmar, Mizoram and the Philippines will help you to make a better informed decision. To ensure a clean, healthy and happy home, it is important to find a reliable employment agency to help you find a good match. 

As the leading employment agency since 1992, Nation ensures that only those who qualify would be allowed to work in Singapore. Get in touch with us to start looking for the most suitable domestic helper for you and your family today. 

For many couples in Singapore, the thought of hiring a domestic helper only comes to mind when they have children and/or ageing parents to take care of. This is especially so when both are busy at work and may not have enough time to provide the care for their loved ones, which makes the idea of having additional assistance more enticing.

Likewise, if you have to juggle a career and fulfill your family responsibilities, how often do you need your helper that it will be necessary for her to stay at your house? Here are some considerations for having a live-in domestic helper:

Considerations before hiring

Space

It is important to first make sure that you are able to provide accommodation for your foreign domestic helper to sleep before you proceed with the hiring process. If providing a room is not possible, you should ensure that sufficient space and privacy are provided for her. For instance, some families let their domestic helpers share the same room as their children. If you are considering this arrangement, do note that the children must not include male teenagers and do not place any monitoring devices such as CCTVs in areas that intrude on your helper’s privacy or insult her modesty, e.g. where she changes her clothes or in the bathroom.

Budget

Money-wise, the cost of having a part-time vs a live-in helper can vary. Apart from her level of training, her salary may also be determined by the experience she already had with previous households. With this information, you can then decide on the most suitable helper based on the annual budget you have set for your family. On top of her salary, you are also responsible for her other expenses such as food, daily necessities, healthcare expenses (including outpatient medical costs) and insurance. Especially if you find yourself struggling with work and household matters, it will definitely be a significant investment that will make your life easier. 

Expectations 

With a part-time helper, it may be more straightforward when it comes to informing her on what she needs to get done when she comes by your place. On the other hand, as the job scope of a live-in helper is wider and more customisable, this means you have to set expectations from the start. While some families leave everything to their helpers, others like to delegate specific chores for them to complete. Although your domestic helper may have undergone training in her agency, you may still need to educate her on how to operate the household appliances in your home and guide her closely for the first few weeks.

After the initial phase, you will be able to get peace of mind and feel more assured as she gradually gets a hang of how things are run in your household. Especially if you are hiring her to watch over your children or assist your elderly parents, all the more you will want to ensure that she is able to manage independently when you are not around. This will take time. Thus, if you do not have the time to train and have the patience to guide your potential helper in the coming months, you may want to look for alternative solutions for the time being, such as sending your child to a child care centre or your aged parents to day care facilities managed by social welfare organisations.

The Hiring Process

If you think it is the right time to get some extra help, you can start your search for potential candidates and narrow down your choices through interviews. This can be an overwhelming process, particularly if you have never had a domestic helper before.   For a hassle-free experience, it is always better to engage a maid agency that can source for the right match based on your household needs.

Established in 1992, Nation has since grown to become a leading employment agency in Singapore, providing trained foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to 50,000 households.

With Nation, our experienced staff would be able to help you with the necessary processes at the FDW’s source country and while in Singapore. Get in touch with us to start looking for the most suitable domestic helper for you and your family today. 

Having a domestic helper can be a huge relief to your household when both spouses are working and have young children or elderly parents that need looking after. She can help with cleaning, cooking, picking up the kids from school, and shopping for groceries in the wet market nearby.

After a tired day at work, you can return home to relax and spend some quality time with your family, knowing that your household is being well taken care of.

There are about 250,000 Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) in Singapore, and they come from MOM-approved sources of countries. These countries include the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia, India (Mizoram), Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Once you decide to engage a domestic helper, which country to hire from is an important factor to consider, apart from economic considerations such as her monthly salary.

To help you to make an informed decision, we have put together a mini guide on the domestic helpers from different countries so you can evaluate which one is a better fit to your household requirements.

Indonesian Foreign Domestic Workers

Communication

Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of Indonesia, is rather similar to the Malay language which is most frequently spoken by 12.23% of Singaporean households. Meanwhile, despite English not being its official language, it is widely spoken in Indonesia. Thus, most Indonesian domestic helpers can speak a little English, and this would help reduce the communication gap between employer and employee.

Dietary habits

Over 87% of Indonesians identify themselves as Muslims. This means that your Indonesian domestic helper may have different dietary habits, for example, they cannot eat pork. However, while they are unable to consume pork, some are comfortable enough to cook or handle related dishes although it is highly dependent on individuals. In any case, if there is a need for your Indonesian domestic helper to handle pork, it is highly recommended that you first seek out her opinion and agreement.

Personality 

Indonesian domestic helpers are generally hardworking, industrious and flexible when treated fairly by their employers. Their diligence in completing their assigned tasks will give employers a peace of mind. When instructions are communicated clearly, Indonesian domestic helpers will have no trouble finishing their chores.

Myanmar Foreign Domestic Workers

Quick learners

Domestic helpers from Myanmar are known to be quick learners and tend to pick up different skills fairly quickly. While they speak little English compared to their Indonesian counterparts, their ability to pick things up faster will be beneficial to the households. This would help them get over the language barrier quickly since they can learn basic English within a short span of time.

Dietary habits

Majority of Myanmar domestic helpers are Buddhists and may have certain dietary restrictions. While some may be strict vegetarians, others might be less restricted in their food consumption. Aside from religious influence, their eating habits may differ due to their ethnic background, for example, their traditional breakfast may be rice or noodles instead of bread commonly eaten by most Singaporeans. Once again, it is still highly recommended that you check with your helper on her food choices and eating habits.

Personality 

Myanmar domestic helpers have a good reputation for being kind natured and having a good temperament. They seldom lose their cool and will focus on working hard because they wish to do all that they can do to better their lives.

Quick Guide to hiring a domestic helper from Indonesia or Myanmar

If you decide to hire an Indonesian or Myanmar domestic helper, there are some procedures that you will have to comply to. Here are some tips to guide you along.

• Indonesian Foreign Domestic Workers

Your domestic helper is required to have an overseas worker card (KTKLN card) before being legally allowed to take up work outside of Indonesia. At Nation, Indonesian domestic helpers would generally possess the overseas worker card, which is one less issue for you to worry about.

• Myanmar Foreign Domestic Workers

Myanmar domestic helpers are generally paid a monthly salary of $450, but this has been increasing over the years. It is encouraged that they get at least one day off in a month to rest. The domestic helpers also undergo basic training before they arrive in Singapore.

• Eligibility Criteria for Domestic Helpers

To qualify for employment in Singapore, all domestic helpers must be 23 years and above and have received minimum 8 years of formal education, according to MOM requirements. Nation will ensure that only those who qualify would be allowed to work in Singapore.

If you happen to have someone in mind that you would like to hire, but are unsure of the process, we hope this article helps you out. Look out for the next article on domestic helpers from the Philippines and Mizoram.

To ensure a clean, healthy and happy home, it is important to find a reliable employment agency that will provide well-trained domestic helpers for your family. Since 1992, Nation has been providing trained foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to over 50,000 households in Singapore. Get in touch with us to start looking for the most suitable domestic helper for you and your family today. 

There are some compulsory minimum coverage requirements her plans must include. Continue reading to find out more on what FDW insurance should have and can include:

Medical Insurance

For starters, medical insurance must be purchased before your helper arrives in Singapore. Keep in mind that foreigners do not get subsidies like Singaporeans, so their medical bill sizes tend to be larger than Singaporeans at Restructured Hospitals. In the event that your helper needs medical treatment, her insurance plan must have sufficient amount to cover the medical expenses. This offers you a peace of mind when such unexpected expenses occur.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) states that the medical insurance must have a coverage of at least $15,000 per year for inpatient care and day surgery during your helper’s stay in Singapore. You are also strongly encouraged to buy additional insurance coverage for greater protection against excessive medical bills incurred by your FDW.

You may want to also check if the insurer has a rider for outpatient expenses, and if they cover other conditions such as pre-existing conditions and mental illnesses. While the rider is optional, having an additional layer of protection would give you a greater peace of mind. Hence, it is crucial to take some time to consider your insurance plan features and benefits to ensure greater protection.

Personal Accident Insurance 

It is also compulsory for employers to purchase personal accident insurance (PIA) of at least $60,000 coverage per year. This is to protect your helper and her family by providing a lump sum compensation if she suffers sudden, unforeseen and unexpected incidents resulting in permanent disability or death. Do also check if your insurance plan covers for repatriation expenses as these pay-outs may come in handy if there is a need to send your helper home.

Security Bond

Most insurance packages for FDWs would include the Security Bond together with the Personal Accident Insurance cover. The Security Bond, mandated at $5,000 is essentially a binding pledge payable to the government in the event either you or your worker breaks the law or Work Permit conditions during her employment.  

Before You Proceed

Make sure you are clear that the insurance plans you are purchasing meet all of MOM requirements and that you are well aware of the features of the insurance plans you are getting for your helper. There are many other add-ons that you can consider having in your insurance plans such as increasing personal accident and medical coverage at additional premiums as medical costs are not subsidised for non-Singaporeans.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the difference between medical insurance and personal accident insurance for FDW?

Unlike other workers, the Workman Injury Compensation Act (WICA) does not apply to FDWs.  As they are employed by households and work and live in the same premises, it is difficult to determine whether any injury sustained in the premises was due to work-related activities.

In lieu of WICA, MOM mandates that all FDW employers must buy personal accident insurance (PAI) for their FDWs.  Any accident, whether or not it is work-related, the PAI will provide compensation to the FDW or her next-of-kin in the event of permanent disablement or death.  The required minimum sum assured for PAI is $60,000 from 1 October 2017.

It is a breach of the work pass regulatory conditions if employer does not buy the required insurance. If found to be in breach, the employer faces a fine, and may also be barred from employing FDWs.

Where can I buy insurance for my FDW?

You can buy plans from any insurer as long as it meets the compulsory minimum coverage requirements set by MOM.  However, you are strongly encouraged to buy additional insurance coverage for greater protection against any unexpected or excessive costs incurred by your FDW and to have peace of mind.

When buying medical insurance for your FDW, you should pay attention to the features of the plan, such as the exclusion clauses.

Here at Nation, we provide assistance as part of our service offerings to employers in purchasing medical as well as personal accident insurance.  We worked with insurance providers to ensure your insurance plans meet with MOM requirements. Most insurers would allow you to increase personal accident and medical coverage at additional premiums if you want a piece of mind in the event that the medical expenses are above the sum assured.

To ensure a clean, healthy and happy home, it is important to find a reliable employment agency that will provide well-trained domestic helpers for your family. Since its establishment in 1992, Nation has been providing trained foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to over 50,000 households in Singapore. Get in touch with us to start looking for the most suitable domestic helper for you and your family today.

Choosing a helper can be a daunting task, made much harder if you are unable to find a suitable one to meet your family needs. Interviewing a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) is a crucial step in the selection process and doing it personally will allow you to look beyond their paper qualifications such as their personality and communication skills, among others.  

The interview is usually done ‘live’ via video conference or face-to-face if the candidate is a Transfer FDW. With the right questions, you will be able to narrow your candidate options more efficiently and find a good fit for your household.  It is recommended that you make a checklist of questions before the interview and prioritise them based on your needs and expectations. Do not rush through the interview and do take notes if you are interviewing more than one prospective candidates so that you can compare their responses later and make an informed decision.

To help you get started, we have compiled some sample questions you can ask during the ‘live’ interview with prospective helpers and why it will help.

Tell me about yourself.

Before getting into the specifics of the job, this is a great opportunity to warm up and get to know your potential helper. For starters, information such as her hobbies, love for children and favourite dishes to cook are good points to take note. Throughout the interview, you will be able to tell if you can communicate well with her.  You can also have an indication on her language proficiency for example, English, Chinese, Malay or dialects like Hokkien, etc.

At the end of the day, effective communication plays a crucial factor in having a smooth work journey on both ends. It would be good to also use the opportunity to find out her family background and if there are any social obligations, for example, share in the up-keeping of aged parents, young siblings or young children if she is married.

Why do you want to work in Singapore?

Her answers would allow you to understand her motivation and drive. Take this time to gauge how dedicated and committed she will be to her work with your family.  

What were your previous job tasks?

If you are engaging a Transfer FDW, you will want to know how many years of experience she has as a domestic helper. Let her describe her everyday tasks in her previous employment to you; this will give you an indication of how quick she will be integrating into your family lifestyle. Let her know upfront if it differs from your requirements. Some families prioritise childcare or looking after an elderly family member while others put more emphasis on household chores. Depending on what your family requires of her job scope, this will give you a better understanding of how well she will perform her various duties and the amount of time you will need to spend guiding her, ultimately managing everyone’s expectations.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Apart from her experience, her character and attitude to her work are other vital factors in fostering a happy work relationship between you and your domestic helper. If she talks about strengths such as patience, first aid and good listening skills, this will be beneficial to your family. If her weakness clashes with your expectations, that is a red flag to look out for. Do take note that “strengths” and “weaknesses” may be too conceptual for some helpers to answer. You may consider asking what they are good or not good at doing.

What would you do in this situation?

Especially if this is her first job as a helper, you can give her scenarios and how she will react in them. For example, what will she do if your child keeps crying? More importantly, you will want to know her response in case of emergencies. What will she do if your elderly parent falls down? Looking after children or the elderly is a job that requires patience; this sets the stage of what you can expect from her.

During the interview, she may have her own questions to ask so do take note of her concerns. Some of the helpers may be shy or afraid to ask questions since this is effectively a job interview. You should encourage her to ask questions since she has to also understand your expectations. Ideally, you should be as explicit as possible when sharing information with the helper on her scope of work and day-to-day activities, and be prepared to get rejected by the helper if she finds your requirements or expectations too difficult to fulfill. This is after all a two-way interview between you and the FDW.

We hope that these questions give you a head start in your search for the right helper. If you lack the time to carry out a thorough interview process and need additional help, get in touch with us. To ensure a clean, healthy and happy home, it is important to find a reliable employment agency that will provide well-trained domestic helpers for your family.

Since its establishment in 1992, Nation has been providing trained FDWs to over 50,000 households in Singapore. Get in touch with us to start looking for the most suitable domestic helper for you and your family today.