Cost Breakdown: Hiring a Maid or Domestic Helper in Singapore

Key Takeaways

• Hiring a domestic helper in Singapore is usually out of necessity, and the recurring costs require some personal financial planning beforehand.
• Apart from maid salary, the employer is responsible for their helper’s health and safety during their employment in Singapore.
• There are several government grants and subsidies for hiring foreign domestic workers (FDWs).

For many households where the “sandwiched generation” juggle a variety of adulting concerns, from child rearing, caregiving of elders, to mundane house chores, foreign domestic workers (FDW) or domestic helpers in Singapore, are undoubtedly their not-so-secret weapons.

Their daily routines are predictable. They are usually constant companions for the elderly at HDB void decks or accompanying their employers’ children to school.

While domestic helpers in Singapore, which makes up an estimated 300,000 or 5% of Singapore’s population according to the Migrant Domestic Worker Report, are a common sight here, getting a maid in Singapore is a significant financial commitment.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various fees involved in hiring a domestic helper in Singapore, so you can evaluate the affordability before you hire. This includes the monthly maid salary, maid agency fees, maid levy, and other domestic worker-related expenses that fall under your care as an employer. Learn more about employer requirements for hiring a maid in Singapore, too.

If you’re considering a private personal loan to manage your expenses, visit the PLF loan comparison page to find the best rate for your needs.

One-time costs of hiring a maid in Singapore

The costs of hiring a maid in Singapore include several one-time and recurring costs. Below is a breakdown of the one-time costs you will need to pay for your domestic helper before she starts work.

One-off cost of hiring a maid in Singapore

* Note: The placement fee, known as a maid loan, is typically 4–6 months of salary. The employer pays this amount to the agency upfront, and it is then deducted from the helper’s salary in the following months. However, since you’ll eventually recover the amount, the employer’s actual final cost for this item is technically S$0.

Maid agency fee

If you’re hiring a domestic helper for the first time, you may consider hiring through an agency. This could be more convenient, as the agency will assist with the paperwork, legal requirements and assignment of the right help based on your needs.

Maid agency fees usually cost between S$1,000 and S$3,000, depending on the agency, the helper’s nationality and experience.

You can also recruit your helper independently via maid transfer, meaning you will recruit from the pool of domestic helpers already working in Singapore who are looking to transfer to a new employer. Hiring a transfer maid may also help you save money, as there are fewer fees involved.

While this may expedite the recruitment process, it also means you need to be familiar with the requirements and take charge of administrative matters. Experienced maids also tend to cost more.

There are certainly pros and cons to each option. In general, when hiring a domestic helper through an agency, you can expect services including candidate screening, training, orientation, conflict mediation, and replacement guarantee if things don’t work out.

Security bond

Once you have decided on a domestic helper, you will need to purchase a security bond, medical and personal accident insurance for her. These can be bought as a package or separately. Your bank or insurer will need to send the security bond details to the Ministry of Manpower, which takes up to 3 working days to process.

You must ensure the security bond status is in effect when your helper arrives. Suppose the security bond is not in effect when your helper arrives in Singapore. In that case, the immigration officer will not allow her to enter Singapore, and she will be sent home immediately.

The S$5,000 security bond is payable for every domestic helper you hire (except Malaysian helpers). It acts as a guarantee to the government that you or your helper will not break any laws or work permit conditions during the contract period.

Once your helper’s work permit has been cancelled, and your helper has returned home without breaching the conditions, the bond will be returned to you.

Placement fee

The placement fee is a sum to help cover the domestic helper’s cost of coming to work in Singapore. It is calculated by using the helper’s salary multiplied by a specified number of months and paid by the employer to the agency.

Another way to explain it — your helper needs to pay the agency to work in Singapore, which you will pay first, and she will repay you over time.

This amount is not included in your expenses, as the money is returned to you through deductions from your domestic helper’s salary.

For instance, if your helper earns S$500 per month and the placement fee is for 3 months, the total maid loan amount would be S$1,500 (S$500 x 3 months).

If you need more than one personal loan, find out how to do so and apply now.

Work permit application fee

When you or your agency applies for your helper’s work permit, you will need to pay:

• Upon permit application: S$35 for each pass
• Upon pass issued: S$35 for each pass

The work permit is valid for two years and must be renewed before it expires. If the application is submitted through the FDW eService portal, the result may be available within a week, unless more information is required. Those who applied via the application form will know the result within three weeks.

Settling-in Programme (SIP)

If your helper is working in Singapore for the first time, you will need to send her for the Settling-in Programme (SIP) within 7 days of her arrival in Singapore (excluding Sundays and public holidays and not on the day of her arrival).

The 1-day orientation programme will educate them on safety precautions and living in Singapore, and will be conducted in the domestic helper’s native language. The topics covered include:

• Adapting to working and living in Singapore
• Conditions of employment
• Working safely
• Relationship and stress management

The costs of the training vary from course providers below:

• Absolute Kinetics Consultancy – S$76.40
• Grace Management & Consultancy Services – S$92.65
• NTUC LearningHub – S$77.00

All fees are inclusive of GST and borne by the employer.

Employer’s Orientation Programme (EOP)

If you’re a first-time employer, you must attend the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) at least 2 days before submitting a Work Permit application.

This 3-hour orientation programme can be attended online or in a classroom and is meant to help you understand your role and responsibilities as an employer of a maid in Singapore.

The programme cost is S$35 for online and S$35 to S$60 for classroom training. First-time employers are encouraged to attend the programme in the classroom, as case studies and real-life scenarios will be shared.

You may appoint a representative or sponsor to attend the programme on your behalf if you meet the following criteria:

• 60 years old and above, and have difficulty walking
• Suffer from a chronic medical condition
• Have a physical disability and are unable to walk
• Are a new or expectant mother

You will need the following details for the application:

• Singpass
• Employer’s personal particulars
• Personal particulars of the sponsor, spouse or representative (Note: use the same name and identification number as the one used to register for the EOP)
• Employment agency’s contact details (if applicable)

For employers who have appointed representatives, all documents must be kept for at least 3 months for audit purposes.

Maid insurance

As part of your medical obligations to your helper, you are required to provide medical insurance and personal accident insurance before she arrives in Singapore. The average cost of maid insurance in Singapore can range from S$400 to S$500 for a 26-month period.

Your domestic worker must have medical insurance coverage for inpatient care and day surgery while in Singapore, with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000.

She must also be covered for at least S$60,000 per year under personal accident insurance. In the event of sudden unforeseen incidents resulting in permanent disability or death, this lump sum compensation is meant to protect your helper and her family or beneficiaries.

Recurring costs: maid levy, maid salary & living expenses

Besides one-time costs, there are also recurring expenses to factor into your budget. From the monthly maid salary and maid levy to her living expenses, these are all fixed costs you will need to cater for as her employer.

Monthly costs of hiring a maid in Singapore

These cost estimates are not exhaustive and do not include miscellaneous costs.

Maid salary

The monthly maid salary depends on the domestic helper’s nationality, skills, and specialised experience. While there is no fixed amount, the average salary of a domestic helper has been hovering around S$600.

Source: CNA

Take note that the salaries you see listed usually only apply to first-timers with no prior experience. If you’re looking for someone who’s already been working as a helper, especially through an agency, be ready for a higher salary and a bit of extra cost on top if your helper has more experience or specialised skills.

For instance, maids who can speak local dialects and have experience with tube feeding and caring for bedridden patients will cost more than someone new.

Once you and your helper have established rapport and trust, offer incentives such as overtime pay, bonuses, and salary increases to promote retention and motivation.

6-Monthly medical examinations (6MEs)

During your helper’s employment in Singapore, it is mandatory for her to attend a medical screening every 6 months (6ME). This medical examination screens for pregnancy and infectious diseases such as syphilis, HIV and tuberculosis. If your helper did not pass her 6ME, you must cancel her work permit and send her home immediately.

• Pregnancy and VDRL – every 6 months
• HIV – every 2 years
• Tuberculosis – Once, upon 2 years of stay in Singapore
• Checks on Body Mass Index (BMI) and for visible signs of abuse

When your helper’s 6ME is due, you will receive a notification letter and 6ME form by post. She must complete her 6ME by the due date, and the clinic will submit the results to the Ministry of Manpower accordingly.

If your helper is overseas when her 6ME is due, you may request to postpone her screening until she returns to Singapore. Helpers aged 50 or older do not require a 6ME and only need to undergo a medical screening upon work permit renewal.

The cost for 6ME screening can range from S$43 to S$76, depending on the clinic and tests.

Living expenses

Once your helper arrives at your home, you will have an “additional family member” to care for. You will need to provide her with adequate food and lodging, which may add up to approximately S$200-S$300 monthly. Other miscellaneous costs, including laundry and cleaning supplies, personal hygiene essentials and toiletries, utilities, food and groceries, and outpatient GP visits, are to be covered by the employer.

Maid levy

As the employer, you will need to pay a monthly maid levy to MOM by the 17th of the following month (or the next working day if it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday). The payment due date is stated in your levy bill.

Below are the levy rates:

The concessionary rate of S$60 applies to families with a young child below 16 years, an elderly member aged 67 and above or a person with disability certified by a Singapore-registered doctor as needing help with at least 1 Activity of Daily Living (ADL). The levy concession is capped at two helpers per household and can be granted only for one helper per eligible person.

To avoid late payment penalties, it would be easier to set up GIRO payment. Each month’s levy will be deducted from your bank account on the 17th of the following month (or the next working day if it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday).

Conclusion

Having a live-in domestic helper can help alleviate some caregiving and household responsibilities, but it also comes at a cost and with added responsibilities for you.

Take some time to think through the pros and cons and discuss with your family members so you are on the same page. You also need to ensure you are ready for this financial commitment and for any unforeseen expenses associated with hiring a maid, such as if your helper falls gravely ill and her maid insurance coverage isn’t sufficient.

If the costs of hiring a domestic helper exceed your budget, consider alternatives such as part-time helpers, part-time cleaners or temporary childcare services. At the same time, manage your finances with personal loan options that best suit your needs.