1. What is the definition of NEW and TRANSFER
maids?
2. Why should I engage a maid
agency?
3. Can I employ a maid without going through a maid
agency?
4. What are the approved source countries for maids to work in
Singapore?
5. What other charges are there for employing a
maid?
6. Why are there such huge discrepancies in agency fee charged by different
agencies?
7. What is the minimum salary in order to qualify for a
maid?
8. Do we qualify to get a second
maid?
1. What is the definition of NEW and TRANSFER maids?
For classification purposes, New maids refer to those currently
not in Singapore although they may have worked here before.
Transfer maids refer to those currently in Singapore and
can therefore be interviewed in person. [back
to top]
2.
Why should I engage a maid agency?
Maid agencies are in a better position to provide you with
a professional and comprehensive assistance in employing
your maid. A maid agency usually takes care of the hassles
of Work Permit application, security bond, insurance, travel
arrangement, immigration clearance, medical screening, etc.
away from you. However, you will need to check with the
individual maid agency for details of their pricing and
service packages. [back to top]
3.
Can I employ a maid without going through a maid agency?
SGmaid.com allows maids currently in Singapore to be listed
directly under ‘Direct Employment’. Employers
who have maids they wish to help transfer may ‘advertise’
their maid online here for a nominal fee (please call
65-9383-6773,
use Feedback or email
hmding@sgmaid.com for
more details). Maids looking for new
employers may also do so likewise. Potential new employers
will then contact the maids or current employers directly
to arrange for interviews. Once an interview is successful,
the new employer and/or maid may wish to engage an agency
listed with SGmaid.com to file an application for transfer with
the MOM (Ministry of Manpower), usually at a much lower
fee. [back to top]
4.
What are the approved source countries for maids to work
in Singapore?
Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar,
Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.
[back to top]
5.
What other charges are there for employing a maid?
Beside the one-time agency
fee ranging
between S$400 -
S$1,000 for TRANSFER
maid and S$1,000 to
S$2,000 for NEW maid, you should take into consideration
the maid's monthly salary averaging
between S$480 -
S$600 as well as the
MOM’s levy -
currently at S$120
(for Singaporean
with yound kids(s)
or elderly) and
S$265 per month
(Singaporean with no
young kid/ elderly
and
non-Singaporean).
Other misc expenses to consider are the
mandatory maid's
insurance/ security
bond required by MOM
costing between
S$246 to S$375 per
2-year contract, 'rental opportunity
cost lost' by
providing a room to
the maid, daily cost of feeding
the maid, paying for the maid’s (medical) outpatient
treatment and
compulsory 6-monthly
medical check-up and
providing her with
basic toiletries
like soap, shampoo, etc… [back to top]
6.
Why are there such huge discrepancies in agency fee charged
by different agencies?
Due to the intense competition by numerous agencies in Singapore,
there may be some agencies offering ‘incredible packages’ to the extent of an S$88 or even S$0 Agency Fee!
Employers should be extra wary of such cheap packages, as
the trade-off being a very high likelihood of getting very
poor services. The
cost of bringing in a maid from
Indonesia or the Philippines ranges
between S$2,400 to
S$3,000 (including
foreign agency recruitment
fee.
Using common sense, someone has to pay for the difference
between the agency fee (e.g. S$88) and agency cost (e.g.
S$2,400) - usually it is the poor maid who will have to
work extra months without pay! There are many other ways
an unethical but ‘resourceful’ agency can use
to entice employers. Employers should always ‘read
and understand the fine print’ in the contract, especially
so when getting ‘cheap packages’! [back
to top]
7.
What is the minimum salary in order to qualify for a maid?
No actual figure has been stated by the MOM but from experiences
the combined income of both husband and wife exceeding S$30,000
annually will stand a very good chance of getting approval. [back to top]
8.
Do we qualify to get a second maid?
It is possible but the decision rests with the MOM. Usually
if you have a minimum of two young children below the age
of 12 years, or two elderly or one young child and one elderly,
you should be OK.
[back to top]
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