All Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents and expatriates (holding valid employment or work passes), having a valid reason to employ a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) at their residence, are eligible to apply but subject to MOM approval. For expatriate employers, they have to declare that their family members are living with them upon application.

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

Employers are required to pay a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) monthly levy of $300 (normal)or $60 (concessionary). Levy charges begin on the fifth day after the MDW arrival in Singapore, including the day of arrival.

Levy Payment should be made via GIRO only. The MDW's Work Permit (WP) will be cancelled if the employer fails to maintain a valid GIRO account. Employers can view their levy bills online using the Internet Foreign Worker Levy Billing (IFWLB) System via SingPass.

An employer is eligible for low levy for each MDW (max. for two MDWs for each household) if he/she satisfies conditions set by MOM. Generally, a household that has a child/grandchild who is a Singapore Citizen below 16 years old or an elderly (Employer/Spouse/Parent/parent-in-law/grandparent/grandparent-in-law) who is a Singapore Citizen aged 67 years old or above may be eligible to apply low levy but subject to MOM approval. Besides, a household living a person with disability may also be eligible for levy concession on appeal basis.

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.

Yes, you can get refund for the maid-levy paid for the period your maid is not in Singapore. Is on overseas leave for at least 7 consecutive days. Capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.

No. The employer need not do so unless this is provided for in the employment contract.

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 securitydeposit (bond).

Yes, you can purchase an insurance policy with various options from Anda, NTUC Income, and others to avoid making the $5,000 deposit. 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.

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.

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.

In general, if you have not employed a maid before, you must attend an Employer's Orientation Programme before you submit your Work Permit application for your maid.

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.

a) Grace Management & Consultancy Services Pte Ltd

b) Nation Employment Pte Ltd

c) We Are Caring Pte Ltd

Please visit MOM website.

a) In March 2002, an employer received a five-year jail term for abusing her 19-year-old MDW. For over 20 days, the employer scalded the MDW with boiling water, poked her thighs with a pair of scissors and hit the back of her head with the back of a chopper.

b) In July 2002, an employer who physically abused his MDW and caused her death was sentenced to 18 years in prison and 12 lashes of the cane. At her death, the MDW was found to have multiple scars and injuries.

c) In July 2006, an employer was fined $2,000 for asking her MDW to climb and prune a 6-metre mango tree in her yard.

d) In October 2004, an employer who failed to pay her MDW for almost two years was fined $3,000. She was also ordered by the court to pay her MDW the outstanding salary owed to her, which amounted to $3,580.

e) In September 2006, an employer instructed her MDW to climb out of the window of her 18th storey apartment and stand on a narrow ledge to clean the windows. The employer was convicted for breach of the Work Permit Conditions and fined $3,500

f) In September 2005, an employer deployed her MDW to help out at her food stall from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Friday. The MDW’s duties at the stall included serving customers, collecting money from customers and packing food. The employer was charged for illegal deployment and fined $3,000. Her security deposit of $5,000 was also forfeited.

g) In February 2006, an MDW fell eight stories to her death when hanging laundry on a narrow ledge. The employer claimed that it was her mother-in-law who had instructed the MDW to climb onto the ledge. The court rejected her claim and ruled that as the legal employer, she should bear the “ultimate responsibility” for the MDW’s safety. The employer was sentenced to two weeks in jail.

The SIP is a mandatory one day programme for all first-time MDWs, prior to deployment. The SIP aims to better orientate and equip MDWs 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 MDW's native language, to maximize understanding and retention.

A first-time MDW 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 Migrant Domestic Workers who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in thepast, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.

The SIP will better orientate first-time MDWs 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 MDWs adapt better to working in local households and foster better working relationships with their employers.

First-time MDWs must attend the SIP within seven 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 Work Permit system keeps a record of employers and their employment history. The system will identify which Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) are new to Singapore.

Employers and Employment Agencies (EAs) will be informed of this requirement in the Letter of Notification to bring MDW into Singapore

Employers can check if their MDW is required to attend the SIP via WP Online. What languages will the Settling-In Programme (SIP) be taught in?

The SIP is conducted in the MDW's native languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia, Myanmese and Tagalog.

SIP will also be conducted in English. You may wish to check with the training providers on the schedules for the SIP classes.

All first-time MDWs are required to attend the mandatory SIP within the first seven days of arrival in Singapore, excluding the day of arrival. Working days are from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sunday and Public holiday.

• 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 Migrant 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 MDWs will be exempted. The SIP is focused on adapting MDWs to working and living in a foreign environment, especially on observing work safety.MDWs will also learn about their rights and responsibilities while working in Singapore, as well as relationship and stress management. The SIP will help MDWs be better oriented and adjusted when starting work at your household, which can help reduce conflicts and accidents at the workplace.

MDWs who fail to attend the SIP within seven 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 your MDW is a first-time MDW in Singapore, she is required to attend the SIP.A first-time MDW 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 Migrant 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. The SIP is focused on adapting MDWs to working and living in a foreign environment, especially on observing work safety. MDWs will also learn about their rights and responsibilities while working in Singapore, as well as relationship and stress management. The SIP will help MDWs be better oriented and adjusted when starting work at your household, which can help reduce conflicts and accidents at theworkplace.