Can Foreigners Hire a Maid in Singapore?

Can Foreigners Hire a Maid in Singapore? Yes, a foreigner can hire a maid in Singapore or even a part-time cleaner, but if the maid is from somewhere else, other than being a Singapore local there are certain protocols to be followed.

People in Singapore work extremely hard with long hours. So, if they have children they will want someone at home, to clean cook, and supervise the children until they can finish work and come home.

Hiring Domestic Help

If you are hiring a foreign maid or domestic help while you are living in Singapore, there are rules to be followed. Your domestic help is likely to be either from Indonesia or the Philippines and by law, must be between the ages of 23-50 years.

If you hire a local, Singapore-born woman there is no pass or rules required, and they could be older than 50 years or younger than 23. If you are from somewhere else and you are hiring domestic help

it is easier to hire the services of a maid agency. It will cost a bit more, but when you don’t understand the protocols, it is the best and easiest solution. Alternately you can look up the daily advertisements for domestic workers online or in a newspaper.

You, are required to be over the age of 21 before you can hire help and not be an undischarged bankrupt. If the maid’s paperwork is all in order it will expedite the process, otherwise, it could take a few weeks to get a placement.

The Ministry of Manpower handles these details and can give in-principle approval, once the work permit is approved to a foreign maid it is for two years.

What Hiring a Part Time Cleaner will cost you.

In Singapore, the government imposes a $265 levy on the employer and this is on top of the maid’s wages. You will also pay her insurances and a security bond usually $5,000.

It may be cheaper for you to hire a part-time local Singapore worker to come and clean three times a week if not a lot is required you may find this enough. If you are hiring a local, you will need to check their paperwork to make sure that they are being truthful, as the onus is on you.

If it was found that the maid was not a local you would incur a heavy fine.

What to Expect from Hiring your Maid

Workers in Singapore are a bit more flexible than in any other country, and you will be able to make a list of duties that you want to be carried out three times a week by the maid and specify the hours that she is to be at your house.

If your maid is from another country, you may need to provide her with onsite accommodation. This is not a legal requirement but is a much more attractive proposition for someone looking after your children, to have a small apartment in your house.

This way, if you are running a bit late in returning home from the office you don’t need to worry about the maid being late leaving. Just remember to compensate her accordingly. Have a look at the laws, to see if free accommodation can be a part of her package.

Hiring a part time cleaner or Maid

If you look after your domestic help or maid, they will become very loyal to you and your family. A local person may be happy to stay employed by you on a semi-permanent basis.

When you go away on holidays, they will be able to take care of your house, and oversee the domestic cleaning and household care until you return from your trip. They are very mindful of the law in Singapore, as breaching the law means much tougher penalties for all concerned than it does in most other countries.

Can Foreigners Hire a Maid in Singapore? – Conclusion

Living and working abroad is a privilege and whether you hire a part-time cleaner or a full-time maid, you have legal responsibilities to do it correctly and legally. Using the slightly costlier services of an agency when hiring a maid may be the best thing to do, as they will do all the paperwork checkups, and you won’t have to worry about the legalities.