Read This First Home
| 1) | So what's new for first-time employer of FDW's? |
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Those who have never employed an FDW in Singapore have to attend an
Orientation course lasting 3 hours before their application for a work
permit for an FDW will be considered.
Internet-savvy employers may sign up for an internet course offered by Singapore Poly instead. Click here for an on-line course offered by Singapore Polytechnic if you do not want to attend the 3-hour lecture/seminar. Important Note: When signing up for the Orientation, be sure to give your name exactly as it appears in the passport and the passport number should also be identical. Eg: 12345 is not the same as 012345. WPOnline is not intelligent enough to equate John Langdon Smith with Smith John Langdon or 12345 with 012345. |
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| 2) | What is FDW? |
| FDW is an abbreviation for "foreign domestic worker". Although most people still call FDWs maids, they are really more than maids: they clean the bedroom and change the bedsheets, etc., like a chamber maid, but they also prepare your meals (like a cook), wash and iron your clothes (like a laundress), take care of your children (like a babysitter or a nanny). The Ministry of Manpower refers to them as Foreign Domestic Workers. As long as the work is done in a domestic environment, they do it. They may not do it so well and some actually die trying. The media now and again report on young women who die cleaning windows or hanging out the clothes to dry. | |
| 3) | Where do FDWs come from? |
| FDWs come mainly from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India - in order of popularity and/or the ease of recruitment and deployment. In 2004, the Association of Employment Agencies Association (Singapore) tried but failed to persuade the government to designate Cambodia as an approved source of foreign domestic workers. This initiative was in anticipation of a shortage of foreign domestic workers when the new age and education requirements were due to come into effect in January 2004. | |
| 4) | What is the Security Bond? |
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Basically, the Security Bond is an instrument that obligates the
employer to put up a security deposit of five thousand Singapore
dollars or get a bank (or, more often, an insurance company) to pledge
the amount which may be forfeited if the employer breaches the terms
of the Security Bond.
In executing the Security Bond the employer promises, among other
things, to cancel the work permit of the maid (the foreign domestic
worker, FDW) and repatriate her when she stops working for her for
one reason or another.
Failing to do so within one month of cancelling the FDW's work permit puts one at risk of having the security deposit forfeited. If no security deposit in cash is furnished but a guarantee given instead, the guarantor (bank or insurance company) is required to pay up. It will then ask for reimbursement from the employer, who when applying to the insurance company agrees to indemnify it against such a loss. |
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| 5) | What is the Security Bond Protector? |
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When the employment of an FDW ends, she either transfers to a new
employer or goes home. Sometimes the FDW is unable to find alternative
employment, so her employer is required to cancel her work permit and
repatriate her under the terms of the Security Bond.
However, if the FDW wants so very much to stay in Singapore she may
play hide and seek with her employer in the hope of avoiding the
inevitable repatriation. This does not happen too often, but when a
relationship breaks down and the FDW walks out, it does create some
anxiety for the employer until the FDW is located and the
misunderstanding is cleared up.
If she is not repatriated within 30 days of the
cancellation of her work permit, Immigration Department has the right
to seize the five thousand-dollar deposit (or demand payment from the
bank or the insurance company that guaranteed payment, if applicable).
If the employer succeeds in tracing the FDW and manages to persuade her to go home, Immigration will consider his request for the refund of his security deposit.
Good News! |
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| 6) | When is an Employer required to put up a $5,000 cash deposit? |
Before a work permit is issued to an FDW her employer is required to
execute a Security Bond which specifies
The Security Bond may be accompanied by a cash deposit of five thousand dollars ($5000.00) but is usually replaced by an insurance company's guarantee instead. If the FDW is found to be working in her employer's business establishment, for example, both the employer and the domestic are in breach of the terms under which the work permit is issued. The employer risks being fined (and Singapore is a fine city) and the FDW risks having her work permit cancelled and she being sent home. However, if the maid can convince MOM officers that she had no say in the matter and only complied to avoid being sent home, she will be given another chance to continue working - for another family.If the Central Provident Fund Board is unsuccessful on more than one occasion in collecting the monthly Foreign Workers Levy, the Work Permit Department will cancel the Work Permit and direct the employer to repatriate the FDW. Failure to comply will put the five thousand-dollar deposit at risk. See text of security bond |
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| 7) | Do employers have to deposit $5,000 in case to execute the Security Bond? |
| It is not necessary for the employer to put up a cash deposit of $5,000. In place of cash, a guarantee by a bank or an insurance company will satisfy the requirements of Immigration Department. However, ultimately the employer is still liable for the same amount if he breaches the terms of the Security Bond, e.g.: failure to repatriate the maid within 30 days of cancelling her work permit. | |
| 8) | What is this Entry Test for first-time FDW's? |
| From 1 January 2005, foreign women may work in domestic situations in Singapore only if they have at least 8 years of formal education. In addition, from 1 April 2005, they will also have to pass an Entry Test in English. Failing this, their provisional work permit will not be confirmed and they will have to go home. This will burn a hole in someone's pocket, usually the agent's. If the contract stipulates that the maid Agency should repatriate the unsuccessful FDW, its risks are increased and it appears likely that it will have to mark up more to avoid a loss. However, if the employer recruits the FDW directly and merely appoints the agent to do the work permit submission and other tasks (arranging for her flight to Singapore, etc.) then it will be the employer's responsibility to repatriate the maid. With this additional Entry Test requirement, costs go up and the agent will either pass on the additional cost to the employer or to the domestic worker. | |
| 9) | What is Foreign Workers Levy (FWL)? |
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The Ministry of Manpower charges the employer of an FDW a monthly fee
which varies according to the circumstances.
This charge is the Foreign Workers Levy. In late 2004, to encourage
Singaporeans to produce more babies, Singaporean mothers of young
children the FWL was reduced to $250. In early 2005, the FWL was
reduced by a further $50. (Expats pay $295 even if they have young
children because when they go home they bring their children with them
and the population of Singapore remains unchanged.)
The amount levied is deducted from the employer's bank account set up
through GIRO, so the employer should remember to top up the balance
periodically, especially if he or she uses the same bank account to
facilitate the payment of other recurrent charges like the monthly car
park license, PUB charges, radio/tv license etc.
If the employer neglects to top up the account and the deduction for
FWL is unsuccessful, MOM will terminate the FDW's work permit and
direct the employer to repatriate her.
Failure to do so will result in loss of the five-thousand dollar
security deposit unless the employer successfully appeals against the
decision.
Note: Even if the employer has taken out the Security Bond Protector policy she will still have to indemnify the insurance company because this policy only protects the Employer if a breach is caused by the FDW and not if it is attributable to the Employer. |
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| 10) | What is the minimum age set for a Foreign Domestic Worker? |
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Foreign Domestic Workers must be at least 23 years of age before
MOM will issue them a Work Permit - regardless of the age stated in
the Passport. If the Work Permit Department is convinced that there is
an error in the date of birth as stated in the Passport, it has the
power to deny a would-be FDW a work permit.
In that case, when the normal 14-day visit expires, it will not be renewed and the would-be FDW will have to leave. If an underaged FDW (even if her passport shows her age as 23 or older) has been issued a work permit but is subsequently discovered to be underaged, the Agency that brings her to Singapore will not only suffer financial loss (having pay for the FDW's repatriation and give its client a free replacement) but will also be slapped with 3 demerit points. Upon receiving 12 demerit points, the license to operate an employment agency will be revoked. Four strikes and you're out! |
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| 11) | What is the maximum age allowed for a Foreign Domestic Worker? |
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Work Permit Department will ordinarily not issue a Work Permit to an
applicant who is fifty years or older. However, if the FDW has been
working prior to reaching the age of 50, WPD will consider waiving
this rule when the would-be employer applies to employ her before her
current work permit expires.
However, there will be no more renewal when the FDW turns 60 - the mandatory retirement age for an FDW. |
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| 12) | What is the salary of a first-time FDW? |
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The salary of a first-time FDW, like that of her more experienced
colleague, is determined by the market, to a certain extent. Two FDWs
working under very similar conditions may not necessarily get the same
pay. Not so long ago Filipino FDWs were paid about SID 100 more than
Sri Lankans or Indonesians. Now the gap between the salary of a
Filipino FDW and an Indonesian FDW, for example, has closed from
$100.00 down to $40.00.
It is more than likely the salary offered to Indonesian domestic workers will rise. Now, 10th June, 2005, the salary has risen to $280.00 for first-time Indonesian domestic workers. And it has. As of 28 Sep 07, Indonesian first-timers ask for $300 and ex-Singapore FDWs ask for $350. |
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| 13) | What documents are required to employ a foreign domestic worker (maid)? |
Singapore and Malaysian citizens or Permanent Residents
Generally same as for locals. However note the differences:
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| 14) | Can a Dependent Pass holder employ a foreign domestic worker? |
| Yes, if he/she is the spouse of an Employment Pass holder who is qualified to employ an FDW. | |
| 15) | How long will take to get a work permit application approved? |
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It may take a couple of days - if all goes well.
It will usually take the first-time employer of an FDW longer than the
current employer of an FDW. However, since the Work Permit Office
replaced the trusty Labournet with WPOnline, all bets are off.
Occasionally one meets an unforeseen obstacle.
Expatriate employers please take note.
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| 16) | In a transfer case, when may a maid report for work with her new employer? |
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An application for a work permit for an FDW is normally submitted via
WPOnline. After it is approved, the employer is required to provide the FDW with an insurance policy to cover personal accidents and hospitalisation. The employment agency normally is able to take care of this for its client. (The transfer may only take place the day after this is done.) This next step is to submit a request to MOM to issue a work permit to the FDW in question. This request is sent via WPOnline. When the request is acknowledged, the FDW may report for work with the new employer. The new work permit card is subsequently picked up. At that time the agent submits the following documents to MOM:
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| 17) | Must an FDW go home when her work permit expires? |
| Not if she extends her contract for another two years and her work permit is extended for two more years. If her employer does not wish to renew the employment contract, the FDW will not need to go home if she finds alternative employment and a new work permit is issued to her to work for her new employer. If the FDW is transferred, the old employer would be advised in due course, by Immigration, that his liability under the Security Bond is discharged. | |
| 18) | What are the obligations of the employer to the FDW? |
The employer owes it to the FDW:
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| 19) | Why are employers required to buy an insurance policy? |
One of the requirements of the Work Permit Department is that the
employer take out an insurance policy to cover the FDW (though some
say "maid")
More about insurance for FDW and Employer.
In the past, (in the bad old days) this was not required of the an
Employer. And if one had not taken out an insurance policy to protect
the maid (FDW, really) against unforseen illnesses that required
hospitalisation she (the employer) could just send her home as soon as
she found out about it.
But now the employer, having insured the FDW, need not worry
about the cost of hospitalisation. The insurance policy even
compensates for the loss of salary and reimburses the employer for the
foreign worker levy paid while the FDW is hospitalized up to a maximum
oF 60 days.
Update |
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| 20) | What should the employer do when his FDW stops working for him? |
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According to the terms of the Security Bond, the employer has to
repatriate the FDW when her work permit expires and he does not wish
to continue to employ her, unless the FDW transfers to another family
with the current employer's consent.
Repatriation.
Transfer
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| 21) | How does one go about cancelling the work permit of an FDW? |
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The Procedure Cancellation of a maid's work permit is done on-line.
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| 22) | Can my maid transfer when her work permit is expiring within one month? |
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The would-be employer may submit an application for the FDW only if
her work permit is valid for at least 30 days. Otherwise it needs to
be extended for another two-year term. This entails the current
employer putting up a new security bond, letter of guarantee and a
health and accident insurance policy - and incurring additional
expenses. The new Work Permit is cancelled when the transfer is
effected.
To avoid this expense, when it is clear that the current employment relationship will not be extended, the current employer may let the FDW start looking for alternative employer earlier, like 6 weeks earlier. Once the work permit application is approved, the actual transfer normally takes place within a week. However, the current employer and the would-be employer may jointly ask for the transfer date to be changed. |
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| 23) | Must an FDW be medically fit before she comes to Singapore? |
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The Work Permit Department does not require an FDW to be certified
medically fit before she comes to Singapore. However, the approval given to an FDW prior to her arrival is subject to her being subsequently certified fit by a Singapore doctor. The agency which places the FDW would normally ask its recruiter in the foreign country to have the FDW examined first. Otherwise, if the FDW fails to secure medical clearance on arrival, her work permit will not be issued and at the end of 14 days she will have to go home, at the expense of the agency! If the Employer finds the would-be FDW himself either because he knows her or is introduced to her by someone (a friend in the Philippines, a domestic worker now in Singapore), he is the recruiter. In this case if the would-be FDW is not subsequently certified medically fit, the Employer would have to repatriate her at his own cost. |
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| 24) | Does an FDW on transfer have to be certified medically fit? |
| A would-be employer may submit (or appoint an agent to submit) an application for a work permit on behalf of an FDW currently working for someone else if her last medical was done less than 147 days earlier. Otherwise, the FDW would have to undergo her 6-monthly medical before an application will be allowed. | |
| 25) | How good are the one-dollar agencies? |
| On the surface, one-dollar agencies (or ODA, pronounced "odour") are very good. Considering that one dollar will not buy a bowl of wanton soup, one dollar is chicken feed. Imagine, if you have to submit an application for a work permit, your bus fare to MOM will exceed one dollar. So is the Employment Agency which charges one dollar a profit-making body or a charitable organisation? Or is it like Robin Hoodlum who robbed the poor to benefit the somewhat rich? | |
| 26) | Can I ask my FDW to clean my windows? I live on the 10th floor. |
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Can cleaning windows be justly considered a domestic chore?
Perhaps yes, perhaps no.
But is it worth arguing if one outcome of this obsession with clean
windows may be the death of a young woman in the prime of her life? On
August 3, 1999, The Straits Times reported "Maid falls 13 floors and
dies".
On June 26, 2001 the same paper a photo submitted by a Singaporean woman showing a maid precariously perched on the window sill six storeys above the ground. A fall from the 3rd storey will certainly kill. A fall from the 2nd storey may not always lead to death, but it may incapacitate the victim for the rest of her life. The very next day, the same newspaper reported that a maid had fallen 7 floors and miraculously lived. The question is: for how long will she continue to live (and suffer!) |
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| 27) | Can I employ an FDW part-time if her employer does not object? |
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According to Work Permit Office regulations, a work permit holder may
work only for the employer named in the work permit and a person may
only employ a foreign worker with a valid work permit, i.e., a work
permit with name of the employer on it. Before a work permit is issued to FDW, she has to acknowledge certain conditions, among them:
"2. [that she] shall only work for the employer ... named in the work
permit..." |
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| 28) | Can an employer ask her maid to clean up her mother's flat once a week? |
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It is very clear that a foreign domestic worker may not work for
another person other than her employer. The employer who requires her
domestic helper to clean her mother's apartment once a week, say, may
not claim to be ignorant of this prohibition because she will have
made a declaration prior to the issuance of the work permit:
"I shall not send the foreign worker to work for any other
person..." See Employer's Declaration, item 8)
and "I shall ... employ the foreign domestic worker to perform only household/domestic duties at the residential address as shown on the work permit." See Employer's Declaration, item 10) |
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| 29) | If my maid is not paid for washing my mother's flat, is it still illegal? |
The Work Permit Office requires an FDW to declare that she will not
work for anyone other than the employer whether with or without pay.
The FDW declares:
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| 30) | Can an FDW accept an offer of employment subject to her passing a "job test?" |
| Now and again, someone would ask for an FDW to undergo a "job test" in her house for a few days before she decides whether to employ her or not. MOM does not approve of this manoever. If the domestic were a local woman, this request would not be a problem, so long as the potential employer pays for the days that the local woman was on "test". But local domestic workers are a rare breed and live-ins are history. "Testing" an FDW is subject to abuse. A woman with a silver tongue who really intends to employ an FDW short term can employ one for a few days (or for as long as she can escape detection) if her maid agenct is naive or conniving. |