FAQ

Looking for full-time maid in Singapore?A4 Employment Agency deploys FDWs from the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. All our available FDWs Bio-data can be found at www.a4maids.com. You may want to indicate your preferences for a specific maid. We have Ex-Singapore, Transfer, New or Ex-Abroad Helpers for you to consider. Once you have shortlist your maids based on your selection criteria, you can request us to contact you or you can Contact Us directly.

Looking for Advance Placement Scheme (APS) Maids?APS Maids are available at A4 Employment Agency! APS maids can be interviewed in person at the agency and can be employed and handed over within 3 – 5 days.

Please contact agency for the APS Maids that are available at A4 Employment Agency.

Why should I engage a maid agency?Maid agencies are authorized and Licensed by Ministry of Manpower in providing comprehensive services to assist you in employing a maid. A maid agency usually takes all the hassles of Work Permit application, security bond, insurance, travel arrangement, medical screening, etc. away from you. However, individual maid agency may vary in their pricing, service package and details.

Can I employ maid from any country?No, you can only employ maid from MOM (Ministry of Manpower) approved source of countries for FDW (Foreign Domestic Workers). The countries are: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand.

What is a security bond?Employer is responsible for the repatriation of the maid. You are required to post a security deposit (bond) of $5,000 per maid with the Work Permit Department, MOM. If you fail to repatriate the maid after cancellation of her work permit, you risk losing the $5,000 security deposit (bond).

Can I avoid making the $5,000 security deposit?Yes, you can avoid making the $5000 deposit. You can purchase an insurance policy with various options from us. There are other insurance companies but we have chosen Tokio Marine and NTUC. However, you may (depending on the insurance package and options you purchase) still be liable for the $5,000 if you fail to repatriate the maid.

Personal Accident InsuranceEmployers need to buy medical insurance with coverage of at least $15,000 per year for inpatient care and day surgery during your helper’s stay in Singapore..

What medical checks are necessary for my maid?Within 14 days of your maid arrival to Singapore, she must undergo a medical examination, and certified fit. Thereafter, the maid is required to undergo six-monthly medical screening, for VDRL, pregnancy, and HIV.

Am I responsible for the medical expenses of the maid?Yes, as an Employer, you are required to bear the full cost of the medical care, including hospitalization. It is advisable to have insurance coverage for hospitalization expenses for your maid. Depending on the options you choose when purchasing personal accident insurance coverage, it may have been included.

Must I attend the Employers’ Orientation Programme?In general, if you have not employed a maid before, you must attend a 4-hour Employers’ Orientation Programme before you submit your Work Permit application for your maid. (Website: http://www.sp.edu.sg ).

Can I be exempted from attending the Employers’ Orientation Programme?Only if you have valid reasons, for example, medical reason or disability. In this case, you must submit a form to exempt from taking the Programme.

Where can I find out all the details about the Employers’ Orientation Programme?Please visit  http://www.mom.gov.sg

How much is the maid levy?The Levy is $265 per month. However, if you are a Singapore Citizen and you have children aged less than 12 years old or live with elderly persons aged 65 years old or above, the levy is reduced to $60 per month. CPF Board, as the collection agent, collects the Levy on behalf of MOM.

Can I claim tax relief for maid levy?You can claim tax relief if:

1. you are a married woman and has elected for separate assessment; or
2. you are married and your husband is not resident in Singapore; or
3. you are separated or divorced or widowed and living with your unmarried child for whom you can claim child relief.

The relief is two times the amount of maid levy paid for one maid. It can only be set off against the earned income of the wife. Single taxpayers are not eligible for this relief. You can get the relief even if the levy is paid by the husband.

Can I get refund on the maid-levy paid during the period that my maid goes on home leave?You can apply for a levy waiver only if your helper:

• Is on overseas leave for at least 7 consecutive days.
  Capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.
• Is on hospitalisation leave issued by Singapore hospitals.
  Capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.
• Does not return to Singapore after overseas leave.
• Is under police custody or is housed at the embassy.
• Passed away.

What you need

Do I have to pay the maid salary when she goes on home leave?It depends on the employment contract the maid had with you. The normal practice is: Home leave is no-pay leave.

What is the Settling-In Programme (SIP)?The SIP is a mandatory one day programme for all first-time FDWs, prior to deployment. The SIP aims to better orientate and equip FDWs with basic knowledge about living and working in Singapore. It includes modules on:

• Introduction to Singapore;
• Conditions of employment;
• Safety at home;
• Safety in other areas; and
• Relationship and stress management

The Safety Awareness Course will be subsumed under the SIP. The SIP will be conducted in the FDW’s native language, to maximize understanding and retention.
A first-time FDW is one who:

• Has no employment record with MOM’s Work Pass Division; or
• Has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit cards previously. This includes Foreign Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.

Why must Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP)?The SIP will better orientate first-time FDWs by equipping them with basic knowledge about living and working in Singapore. This will include modules on how to manage stress and adapt to working in a foreign, urban environment. These will help FDWs adapt better to working in local households and foster better working relationships with their employers. First-time FDWs must attend the SIP within three working days of their arrival in Singapore, excluding the day of arrival. Working days are Monday to Saturday, excluding Sunday and Public holiday.

How much does the Settling-In Programme (SIP) cost? Who has to bear the course fees?The SIP costs $75 (including GST) per FDW. The cost of the SIP will be borne by the FDW employer.

Who are the training providers for the Settling-In Programme (SIP) and where is it conducted?The Ministry of Manpower has accredited two training providers to conduct the SIP, and they are:

• Grace Management And Consultancy Services Pte Ltd (GMCS)
• NTUC Learning Hub
• Absolute Kinetics Consultancy

How can employers check if their Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) must attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP)?The Work Permit system keeps a record of employers and their employment history. The system will identify which Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) are new to Singapore. Employers and Employment Agencies (Eas) will be informed of this requirement in the ‘Letter of Notification to bring FDW into Singapore’.

Employers can check if their FDW is required to attend the SIP via WP Online.

Can my FDW be exempted from the Settling-In Programme (SIP)?All first-time FDWs are required to attend the mandatory SIP within the first three working days of arrival in Singapore, excluding the day of arrival. Working days are from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sunday and Public holiday.
A first-time FDW is one who:

• Has no employment record with MOM’s Work Pass Division; or
• Has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit cards previously. This includes Foreign Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.

As the SIP is a mandatory programme, no first-time FDWs will be exempted. The SIP is focused on adapting FDWs to working and living in a foreign environment, especially on observing work safety. FDWs will also learn about their rights and responsibilities while working in Singapore, as well as relationship and stress management. The SIP will help FDWs be better oriented and adjusted when starting work at your household, which can help reduce conflicts and accidents at the workplace.

What happens to Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) who do not attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP)?FDWs who fail to attend the SIP within three working days of arrival in Singapore, excluding the day of arrival, will not be issued their Work Permits and will be repatriated.
Working days are Monday to Saturday, excluding Sunday and Public holiday.

If FDWs have attended the Settling-In Programme (SIP), would they need to sit for the Entry Test or attend the Safety Awareness Course (SAC)?No. From 1 May 2012, all first-time FDWs in Singapore will attend the SIP. The SIP will replace the Entry Test, and the SAC will be subsumed under the SIP.

My FDW has passed her Entry Test and attended the Safety Awareness Course when she came to work in Singapore previously. Now that she is returning to work in Singapore again, must she attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP)?A first-time FDW is one who:

• Has no employment record with MOM’s Work Pass Division; or
• Has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit cards previously. This includes Foreign Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.