Are you looking for a new domestic helper? Or do you want to hire a transfer maid? The employment of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore is regulated by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The ministry has set strict regulations regarding hiring a maid as well as eligibility criteria for employers before they can hire one. As an employer, you must be 21 years old or above and not be bankrupt. You must understand and discharge your responsibilities as an employer. First-time employers must attend an Employer Orientation Programme before applying for a helper. MOM has listed some requirements that determine who is eligible to work as a foreign domestic worker in the country. So if you are thinking about hiring a maid, you must know if your maid is eligible to work in Singapore.
Domestic Helper Eligibility in Singapore
A domestic worker is given a work permit in Singapore only when:
• The maid is female and between 23 and 50 years old at the time of applying for a Work Permit.
• The maid is a citizen of approved countries, including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand.
• The maid has at least eight years of formal education and proof to show it
First-Time Domestic Workers
• MOM considers first-time domestic workers as the persons who have no FDW employment record with Work Pass Division.
• Or they have an FDW employment record with MOM but they didn’t come to work in Singapore.
• First-time FDWs need to attend MOM’s Settling-In Programme for work permit approval.
Employers MUST NOT Hire Domestic Workers Who Are:
• Employers cannot hire domestic workers who are on a tourist visa. If you hire a maid who is working in Singapore on a tourist visa, you will have to pay a fine of S$5,000 to S$30,000, undergo imprisonment of up to 1 year, or both.
• You cannot employ workers whose work permit is sponsored by another employer. The penalties and punishment are the same as mentioned above.
• You could be liable to heavy penalties if you hire a maid who has overstayed in Singapore after her work permit expired.
Additional Things You Must Know
Whether you hire a maid through a domestic helper agency or directly, the FDW should be employed at your registered home address (as stated in the National Registration Identity Card) and she should not be related to you. The maid should not be in Singapore when applying for the work permit. The maid arrives in Singapore when you get the in-principle approval and buy a S$5,000 security bond. Your helper must not work on a part-time basis somewhere else when being employed at your home.
Conclusion
The best way to hire an eligible maid without any hassle is to contact the best maid agency in Singapore. When you hire a maid through a domestic helper agency, you don’t have to worry about eligibility, paperwork, and other factors. The agency takes care of everything for you and helps you hire the best one for your needs.
Contact the best maid agency to make hiring an eligible maid easier for you.
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