Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring Maid

1. What requirements are needed to hire a foreign maid in Singapore?

2. What is the income requirement for hiring a maid?

3. What if I am 60 years & above and I do not have a monthly income, can I hire a maid?

4. What is Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP)?

5. Is it compulsory to attend employer’s orientation programme?

6. What are the upfront costs involved in hiring a maid?

7. What is the maid levy?

8. How much is the maid levy?

9. Does the maid need to undergo medical check-up?

1. What requirements are needed to hire a foreign maid in Singapore?

The employer must be 21 years old and above.

The ministry of manpower (MOM) will also consider employer’s financial ability to hire, maintain and upkeep the FDW.

As stated in the MOM website, you must have the mental capacity to fully understand and discharge responsibility as an employer.

2. What is the income requirement for hiring a maid?

Although household income and monthly salary is an important criterion, the Ministry of Manpower is unable to reveal the exact figure.

Some maid agencies estimate the minimum income requirement to be an annual income of $30,000 for young working couples.

An employer can also apply under the Joint Income Scheme. Under this scheme, you can combine income with one of your immediate family members (other than your spouse) living at the same address.

For elderly who are not earning an income, you can apply under the Sponsorship scheme.

Please check income requirement for hiring maid for details of the sponsorship scheme and the joint income scheme.

3. What if I am 60 years & above and I do not have a monthly income, can I hire a maid?

If you are a Singapore Citizen/PR and already 60 years old and above, you may hire a maid by furnishing a fixed deposit from a local bank of a min amount (SG50K), provided you are not staying with a working adult. For those with children, you can try sponsorship scheme.

4. What is Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP)? 

This is a 3-hour course by the Singapore Polytechnic which provides employers with a basic understanding of their role and responsibilities. First-time employers or employers who have changed FDWs frequently are required to attend the course.   

5. Is it compulsory to attend employer’s orientation programme?

In the following situation, you may not need to attend the EOP yourself.

For employer who is an expectant mother and estimated due date of delivery is within one month from the date you applied for your husband to attend EOP on your behalf.

For employer who is a new mother, you can ask your husband to attend the course on your behalf if you deliver your child within 1 month or less from the date you applied for your spouse to represent you to attend the EOP.

For employers who are above 60 years old and above, or suffer from a chronic medical condition or suffer from a physical disability, you can let your sponsor or representative attend the course on your behalf. If the sponsor has employed maid before, he or she may not need to attend the course.

6. What are the upfront costs involved in hiring a maid?

Fee involved include the following: maid agency fee, insurance for the maid, a fee for an application for work permit, course fee for employer’s orientation programme.

You can refer to cost of maid in Singapore for details of the fee.

7. What is the maid levy?

The foreign worker levy, commonly known as “levy”, is a pricing mechanism used by Singapore government to regulate the number of foreign workers in Singapore.

Maid levy will be paid to Singapore government through GIRO (General Interbank Recurring Order)

8. How much is the maid levy?

The normal rate for maid levy is SG$265. Levy concession applies if your family has a child aged below 16 and the child must be a Singaporean or have an elderly aged 65 or above who is also a Singapore citizen.

9. Does the maid need to undergo medical check-up?

The maid needs to go for medical examination by a certified medical institution within 14 days from the date of arrival in Singapore.

Medical examination will also be required every six months afterward.