There are two ways of hiring a maid: firstly, you can hire a maid directly by yourself or you can engage the services of a domestic helper agency in Singapore to help you handle all the paperwork.
Previously, we explained more about the direct maid hiring process in Singapore and how people are tempted to do so to save costs on agency fees. But how much do you really save in total?
In this article we will be discussing the costs of hiring a maid through a domestic helper agency.
As most maids are on a two-year contract in Singapore, here is an overview of how much you need to be able to afford to hire a maid:
| Factors | Cost | Total Cost Of Hiring Across 2 Years |
| One Time Payment | ||
| Agency Cost | $100 to $2,000 | $100 to $2,000 |
| Air Ticket | ~$400 | ~$400 |
| Settling-In Program (SIP) | $75 | $75 |
| Work Permit Application | $35 | $35 |
| Issuance of Work Permit | $35 | $35 |
| Maid Insurance (Minimal medical coverage of $15,000 and personal accident coverage of $60,000) | $225 to $330 | $225 to $330 |
| Security Deposit (customer will buy insurance to cover, the insurance premium is $50, so they don’t folk out $5000) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Monthly Recurring Cost | ||
| Cost of Levy | $300 (or $60 with concessions) | $1,440 to $7,200 |
| Monthly Salary | $450 to $580 per month (Depending on country) | $10,800 to $13,680 (change accordingly) |
| Daily Expenses | $300 per month | $7,200 |
| Total | $26,810 to $35,525 (can accordingly) | |
Minimum Monthly Salary
The monthly salary of a maid depends on their nationality. The minimum salary rates for the majority of domestic helpers are as follows:
| Country | Minimum Monthly Salary |
| Philippines | $580 |
| Indonesia | $550 |
| Myanmar | $450 |
| Sri Lanka | $497 |
Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concessions
There are three categories under the Foreign Domestic Worker levy concessions which will allow you to pay a lower monthly levy of $60 instead of the usual $300. They are:
| Young Child/Grandchild Scheme | If you have a child or grandchild who is a Singaporean that is 16 years old or younger and living with you |
| Aged Person Scheme | If you have an elderly family member who is a Singaporean that is 67 years old & above and living with you |
| Person with Disabilities (PWD) Scheme | If you have a person who needs help with at least one activity of daily living (ADL) such as showering, eating, dressing or moving around |
Other miscellaneous costs
Other than the domestic helper’s salary and levy, you have to provide her food and accommodation, medical expenses, travel expenses as well as any emergency expenses i.e. hospitalisation fees, if there is a need for it.
This is why getting maid insurance is important.
Hiring a domestic helper agency in Singapore
You should note that not every agency is licensed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Make sure to check their official website for the list of domestic helper agencies and be wary of the list of employment agencies whose licenses have been revoked due to infringement or are under MOM’s surveillance.
Homekeeper is one example of a licensed agency by MOM for foreign domestic workers (FDW) or domestic helpers.
Homekeeper Maid Employment Process
- Find a helper online or directly at any one of Homekeeper’s 4 branches islandwide
- Interview the shortlisted helpers via video call, if required or head down to the most convenient branch and meet them face-to-face
- Confirm the domestic helper of your choice with your domestic helper agency
- Let Homekeeper handle all the maid employment paperwork for you
- Homekeeper will file your selected domestic helper for pre-employment training
- Purchase a mandatory maid insurance for your domestic helper-to-be
- Thereafter, she will be deployed to your home
Approach Homekeeper to find a helper for your unique needs
In all, hiring a domestic helper agency will save you time and the trouble of going through all these time-consuming and confusing processes, while they handle all the paperwork for you.
With our experienced and dedicated team of staff, we are well equipped with the knowledge and know-how on applying for any necessary documents and getting them approved as soon as possible.
By handling all the paperwork and training processes, it will also leave you with the only requirement of providing accommodation for your helper and managing her work performance in your home, ensuring that your experience is a smooth and simple one.
Reach out to us today and make your hiring process an easy one!
About the Author
Linda Seh has over 20 years of experience in the Employment industry. She takes the time to thoroughly interview each family and helper to understand their requirements, personalities, and preferences. Her intuition and insight has helped her make placements that result in lasting, harmonious working relationships. Linda now leverages this expertise and experience to simplify your search and ensure you find the ideal and qualified helper to become a valued member of your family.
