faqs
Quality Helper for Quality of Life.
Since 1993
INFO CENTRE
Frequently Asked Questions
On Employing a Migrant Domestic Worker
All Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents and expatriates (holding valid employment or work passes), having a valid reason to employ a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) at their residence, are eligible to apply but subject to MOM approval. For expatriate employers, they have to declare that their family members are living with them upon application.
Employers are required to pay a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) monthly levy of S$300 (normal) or S$60 (concessionary). Levy charges begin on the fifth day after the MDW arrival in Singapore, including the day of arrival.
Levy Payment should be made via GIRO only. The Work Permit (WP) will be cancelled if the employer fails to maintain a valid GIRO account. Employers can view their levy bills on MOM e-Service portal's Check and Pay Foreign Worker Levy system using their SingPass.
An employer is eligible for a levy concession for each MDW (max. for two MDWs for each household) if he/she satisfies conditions set by MOM. Generally, a household that has a child/grandchild who is a Singapore Citizen below 16 years old or an elderly (Employer/Spouse/Parent/parent-in-law/grandparent/gandparent-in-law) who is a Singapore Citizen aged 67 years old or above may be eligible to apply for a levy concession but subject to MOM approval. Besides, a household living with a person with disability may also be eligible for levy concession. For further details on conditions and application procedures, please contact us at 6665 8199.
For Indonesian MDWs:
They speak Indonesian language which is quite similar to the Malay language used here in Singapore. Some of them who are college graduates or had worked in Singapore before would be able to speak and understand simple English.
Most of them are Muslims and do not eat pork. However, most of them would not mind handling pork during their course of work if required by their employers. Generally, they are agreeable to work on day-off in-lieu of compensation of salary.
For Filipino MDWs:
Generally, they have a good command of English. Most of them are Catholics or Christians. Some may be agreeable to work on day-off in lieu of compensation of salary.
On MDW Current Policies
The employers are required to take care of their MDW medical expenses in Singapore by providing them with adequate insurance coverage. This is compulsory before a work permit can be issued by MOM. The insurance policy requires the MDW to be covered with a minimum sum of S$60,000 per year (starting July 2023) for hospitalization claim. The sum is in line with the new hospitalization subsidy regulation. It is also compulsory for employers to take up a Personal Accident Insurance policy for their MDWs before they can employ them. The minimum sum assured should be S$60,000. Nevertheless, we would advise employers to upgrade the MDW insurance policy to an even better coverage to meet higher-than-expected bills arising from the MDW hospitalization expenses.
On Nation Quality Control and Services
Our MDWs are personally interviewed by our staff and they have to go through various stringent screenings in order to be selected for employment in Singapore. The MDWs are first recruited by our provincial recruiters and then transported to Training Centres. At the training centres, only those applicants that are considered suitable by the standards set by the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore (MOM) will be shortlisted for the first round. Applicants must further meet the preliminary physical, mental and attitude requirements set by our agents before they can proceed for the second round selection.
Selected MDWs will go through the training programmes in the designated training centres. It is here that those with undesirable work attitude and poor learning capabilities will be disqualified. Essentially, only good candidates be offered a job in Singapore.