1. What is the definition of NEW and TRANSFER maids?
2. Why should I engage a maid agency?
3. What are the approved source countries for maids to work in Singapore?
4. What other charges are there for employing a maid?
5. Why are there such huge discrepancies in agency fee charged by different agencies?
6. What is the minimum salary in order to qualify for a maid?
7. Do we qualify to get a second maid?
1. What is the definition of NEW and TRANSFER maids?
For classification purposes, New maids refer to those currently not in Singapore although they may have worked here before. Transfer maids refer to those currently in Singapore and can therefore be interviewed in person.
2. Why should I engage a maid agency?
Maid agencies are in a better position to provide you with a professional and comprehensive assistance in employing your maid. A maid agency usually takes care of the hassles of Work Permit application, security bond, insurance, travel arrangement, immigration clearance, medical screening, etc. away from you. However, you will need to check with the individual maid agency for details of their pricing and service packages.
3. What are the approved source countries for maids to work in Singapore?
Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.
4. What other charges are there for employing a maid?
Beside the one-time agency fee ranging between S$800 – S$1,500 for TRANSFER maid and S$1,500 to S$3,000 for NEW maid, you should take into consideration the maid’s monthly salary averaging between S$650 – S$750 as well as the MOM’s levy – currently at S$60 (for Singaporean with young kids(s) or elderly) and S$300 per month (Singaporean with no young kid/ elderly and non-Singaporean). Other misc expenses to consider are the mandatory maid’s insurance/ security bond required by MOM costing between S$246 to S$375 per 2-year contract, ‘rental opportunity cost lost’ by providing a room to the maid, daily cost of feeding the maid, paying for the maid’s (medical) outpatient treatment and compulsory 6-monthly medical check-up and providing her with basic toiletries like soap, shampoo, etc…
5. Why are there such huge discrepancies in agency fee charged by different agencies?
Due to the intense competition by numerous agencies in Singapore, there may be some agencies offering ‘incredible packages’ to the extent of an S$88 or even S$0 Agency Fee! Employers should be extra wary of such cheap packages, as the trade-off being a very high likelihood of getting very poor services. The cost of bringing in a maid from Indonesia or the Philippines ranges between S$2,400 to S$3,000 (including foreign agency recruitment fee. Using common sense, someone has to pay for the difference between the agency fee (e.g. S$88) and agency cost (e.g. S$2,400) – usually it is the poor maid who will have to work extra months without pay! There are many other ways an unethical but ‘resourceful’ agency can use to entice employers. Employers should always ‘read and understand the fine print’ in the contract, especially so when getting ‘cheap packages’!
6. What is the minimum salary in order to qualify for a maid?
No actual figure has been stated by the MOM but from experiences the combined income of both husband and wife exceeding S$30,000 annually will stand a very good chance of getting approval.
7. Do we qualify to get a second maid?
It is possible but the decision rests with the MOM. Usually if you have a minimum of two young children below the age of 12 years, or two elderly or one young child and one elderly, you should be OK.