Are you planning to hire a full-time foreign domestic worker (FDW) who can help you with your daily chores and other household works? Hiring maids through a helper agency in Singapore is common, but if you’re hiring an FDW for the first time, you must know the laws set by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). MOM provides guidelines for working conditions that employers need to follow if they employ domestic helpers. Here are the basic foreign domestic worker employment rules:
- Employment of Foreign Manpower Act
FDWs are not covered by the Employment Act in Singapore. The Singaporean government has introduced the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act to improve the rights of domestic helpers. Employers must sign an employment contract with their FDWs to avoid disputes. The contract must mention salary, number of rest days in a month, placement loan, notice period, compensation in lieu of rest day, and compensation in lieu of termination notice.
- Safety Agreement
Whether you hire a first-time maid or transfer FDW, your maid agency in Singapore must arrange a safety agreement for you and your maid. The safety agreement mentions the rules for exterior window cleaning and hanging laundry.
Employers must now allow their FDWs to clean the exterior of windows unless they can supervise them or provide strict safety conditions such as locked window grilles or extendable wipers. MOM advises maids to take extra care when hanging laundry outside the windows of high-rise buildings. Employers must take the necessary steps to eliminate the risks involved in other household tasks. The safety agreement must be provided in the native language of your maid. It should be signed by you (employer), your helper agency in Singapore, and the FDW you’re hiring. You must each keep a copy of the agreement.
- Medical Treatment and Insurance
Employers are required to bear the full cost of medical treatment including hospitalisation for their FDWs. It is mandatory for employers to buy insurance coverage of at least $15,000 per year for their maids’ inpatient care and day surgery. Employers must also take the Personal Accident Insurance of $60,000 to ensure maids are compensated if they become permanently disabled or passes away during their employment.
- Electrical and Fire Safety
Foreign domestic workers are not accustomed to using high-end electrical appliances, such as washing machines, microwave ovens, and more. Employers must train their helpers on how to use electrical appliances safely. You must warn your maid to avoid touching electrical appliances with wet hands. Ask her to keep inflammable substances away from fire sources and never leave stoves and heated appliances unattended.
- Accommodation, Food, and Hygiene
Employers are required to bear the costs of their maids’ upkeep and maintenance such as food, accommodation, personal hygiene, and medical care. Your domestic helper must be provided with proper accommodation facilities (such as a proper room with a bed or mattress and a blanket), towels, and bathroom amenities. Three daily meals are a basic right of your maid. Employers need to ensure that they are meeting the nutrition needs of their maids. You must train her on how to maintain her personal hygiene and provide her support to learn about general hygiene around your house.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Manpower sets the rules and recommendations when it comes to employing foreign domestic helpers. Employers who fail to comply with these rules may be penalised, prosecuted, and permanently barred from hiring an FDW. If you’re hiring a helper through a maid agency in Singapore or if you’ve hired one already, make sure you provide a safe, harmonious, and good working environment for her. Follow the basic guidelines mentioned by MOM and attend the Employment Orientation Programme to understand your roles and responsibilities as an employer.
About the Author
Sheena Liam
Sheena works as an occupational health and safety manager at a leading company in Singapore. She knows the ins and outs of maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for workers. She often shares her expertise in this domain through articles on working conditions in various industries. She also likes to travel and enjoys painting sometimes.
