AMTD PolicyPal Looking for some extra help? Find out how to hire a maid as well as the best maid insurance plans in Singapore.
In today’s fast-paced world where juggling work, personal, and family commitments is the norm, a maid can help to take some load off you. But hiring a maid isn’t just about finding a helping hand; it comes with responsibilities for you as an employer, too. This is why maid insurance matters – it serves as a safety net for you and your helper.
This article covers how to hire a maid and includes the best maid insurance options to help you pick the ideal coverage for your domestic helper.
Option 1: How to hire a maid on your own
Hiring a maid on your own can seem tedious. However, it’s doable and you get to save on maid agency fees. These are the steps you’d need to follow on how to hire a maid yourself.
1. Meet the Ministry of Manpower’s maid requirements
First, you’ll need to ensure that you match the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) requirements as an employer. You must:
- Be 21 years old and above
- Not be an undischarged bankrupt
- Have the mental capacity to fully understand and discharge your responsibility as an employer
The maid you hire must also meet MOM’s requirements:
- Female only
- 23 to under 50 years old during the Work Permit Application
- From any of these countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand
- A minimum of 8 years of formal education, with a recognised certificate
- First-time helpers must attend the Settling-in Program
In addition, domestic helpers must:
- Work at their employer’s NRIC-registered address
- Not be related to their employers
- Not be in Singapore during the Work Permit applications
Employers can only bring their helpers into Singapore after they have received an IPA letter and bought a S$5,000 security bond (this does not apply to Malaysian workers).
2. Attending the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP)
The Employers’ Orientation Program or EOP is a compulsory three-hour programme for first-time employers, or for employers who’ve frequently changed their Migrant Domestic Worker.
Here’s all the information you need about EOP at one glance:
|
Who must attend? |
*You can be exempted if you meet certain criteria |
|
When is the latest you can attend the EOP? |
At least 2 working days before you submit your Work Permit application |
|
How much does it cost? |
Classroom EOP: S$35-S$60 Online: S$35 |
|
Who are the Classroom Training Providers? |
|
|
Can I appoint a sponsor or representative to attend on my behalf? |
Yes, if you are a first-time employer and meet any of these conditions:
You will need to keep all documents pertaining to this for at least 3 months for audit purposes. |
Source: Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
3. How do you look for a potential maid?
Now comes the tough part – finding and securing a maid that matches your needs.
You could use websites like HelperPlace and Ministry of Helpers, or transfer a maid from another employer.
You will need to exercise as much due diligence and caution as you can, from the platforms you use to find your maid to the background checks and interview sessions, too.
This is also where you’d negotiate your terms and understand how to develop a good working relationship between employer and domestic worker.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About the Recent Changes to Maid Insurance
4. Applying for a work permit
Here are a few things you’d need to consider when applying for a work permit for your Migrant Domestic Worker:
|
Who can apply? |
Employer, sponsor or authorised employment agent (EA) |
|
How much does it cost? |
When you submit an application: S$35 per pass When the pass is issued: S$35 per pass |
|
How long must you wait? |
FDW eService: Within a week, unless more information is necessary Application form: About 3 weeks |
Source: Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
Once you’ve submitted the work permit application, you’ll need to wait for the in-principal approval or rejection letter before you apply for your maid’s insurance.
5. Purchasing maid insurance and sorting out the security bond
Maid insurance is one of the mandatory purchases employers make before their domestic worker reaches Singapore. The maid insurance plan must cover medical insurance and personal accident insurance.
Medical Insurance
The coverage for medical insurance after 1 July 2023 during your maid’s stay in Singapore should be for at least S$60,000 per year. This consists of a co-payment of 75% by insurers and 25% by employers for claim sums that exceed S$15,000.
Personal Accident Insurance
As for personal accident insurance, this insurance coverage covers sudden, unforeseen, and unexpected incidents resulting in permanent disability and death. The sum assured for this coverage should be at least S$60,000 per year and cover permanent disability or death.
This helps keep your helper and her family safe. If she has a serious accident or passes on, her family receives a sum of money as compensation.
Security Bond
This bond serves as a pledge to the government if either you or your domestic helper break the law or Work Permit conditions. Its value is set at S$5,000. You must buy one security bond per helper, with the exception of Malaysian helpers. The cost for the bond is paid by you and not your helper.
Maid Insurance Offerings in Singapore
FWD Maid Insurance
|
Benefits |
Essential |
Enhanced |
Exclusive |
|
Financial Protection for Employer |
|||
|
Secure Bond Plus Includes a Letter of Guarantee to MOM to replace the mandatory S$5,000 bond |
S$5,000 |
S$5,000 |
S$5,000 |
|
Outpatient Expenses Due to Accident |
S$1,000 |
S$2,000 |
S$3,000 |
|
Outpatient Medical Expenses (up to S$30 per visit after you pay the first S$10) |
Not Available |
S$500 |
S$1,000 |
|
Daily Hospital Allowance |
Not Available |
S$10 per day, maximum 30 days |
|
|
Hospital & Surgical Expenses (subject to co-payment requirements) |
First S$15,000, paid by FWD. Above S$15,000, 75% paid by FWD, up to the benefit limit. |
First S$15,000 paid by FWD. Above S$15,000, 100% paid by FWD, up to the benefit limit. |
|
|
Ambulance Fees |
S$300 |
||
|
Wages and Levy Compensation |
up to S$30 per day, maximum 30 days |
||
|
Rehiring Expenses |
S$300 |
S$400 |
S$500 |
|
Alternative Helper Services Compensation |
Up to S$20 per day, maximum 30 days |
||
|
Financial Protection for Helper |
|||
|
Funeral Grant |
S$2,000 |
||
|
Personal Accident (If helper dies or becomes disabled from an accident) |
S$60,000 |
||
|
Liability to Third Parties (if helper accidentally injures someone or damages another person’s property) |
S$3,000 |
S$4,000 |
S$5,000 |
|
Damage or Theft of Helper’s Personal Belongings (Pays for your helpers lost or damaged items) |
S$300 |
S$400 |
S$500 |
|
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||
Related: The Best Maid Insurance in Singapore for Your Domestic Helper
GREAT Maid Protect
|
Benefits |
Nanny Plan |
Silver |
Gold |
Platinum |
|
Financial Protection for Employer |
||||
|
Insurance Guarantee |
Not Available |
S$5,000 |
||
|
Personal Accident (Death) |
S$60,000 |
|||
|
Personal Accident (Permanent Disability) |
S$60,000 |
|||
|
Personal Accident (Medical Expenses) |
S$2,000 |
S$3,000 |
||
|
Physician treatment (Per Accident) |
S$150 |
|||
|
Hospital & Surgical Expenses (Per Year) |
First S$15,000 fully paid by insurer S$60,000 above first S$15,000 Co-payment of 75% by insurers (and 25% for employers) |
S$60,000 (No co-payment) |
S$90,000 (No co-payment) |
|
|
Recuperation Expenses (per day, max 60 days) |
Not Available |
S$20 |
S$30 |
|
|
Wages, Compensation and Levy Refund (per day, max 60 days) |
Not Available |
S$35 |
||
|
Ending Employment and Hiring a Replacement |
Not Available |
S$350 |
S$500 |
|
|
Special Grant |
Not Available |
S$1,000 |
S$3,000 |
|
|
Employer’s Liability to the Insured Person |
Not Available |
S$50,000 |
||
|
Liability to Third Parties |
Not Available |
S$50,000 |
||
|
Fidelity Guarantee (Excess: S$50) |
Not Available |
S$5,000 |
||
|
Financial Protection for Helper |
||||
|
Insured Person’s Belongings |
Not Available |
S$300 |
||
|
Promotions |
||||
MSIG MaidPlus
|
Benefits |
Standard |
Classic |
Premier |
|
Financial Protection for Employer |
|||
|
Personal Accident |
|||
|
Accidental Death & Permanent Disablement |
$60,000 per year |
||
|
Medical Expenses Due to Accident |
S$1,000 |
S$2,000 |
S$3,000 |
|
Hospital & Surgical Expenses |
|||
|
Hospital & surgical expenses Co-payment conditions as mandated by Ministry of Manpower • First $15,000 of eligible claims, no co-payment required • Above $15,000 of eligible claims and up to sum insured, 25% co-payment applies Day surgery 90 days pre and post hospitalisation diagnostic services and treatment |
S$60,000 per year |
S$80,000 per year |
S$120,000 per year |
|
Alternative domestic help |
$50 per day Max 30 days |
$50 per day Max 45 days |
$50 per day Max 60 days |
|
Wages & Levy |
|||
|
Inpatient Hospitalisation |
$30 per day Max 30 days |
$30 per day Max 45 days |
$30 per day Max 60 days |
|
Compassionate Home Leave |
$30 per day Max 14 days |
||
|
Termination Expenses |
S$300 |
S$600 |
|
|
Replacement Maid Expenses |
S$500 |
S$750 |
|
|
Repatriation Expenses |
S$10,000 |
S$15,000 |
S$20,000 |
|
Liability to Third Parties |
S$5,000 |
S$10,000 |
S$20,000 |
|
Financial Protection for Helper |
|||
|
Personal Belongings |
S$300 |
S$500 |
|
|
Compassionate Travel Expenses |
S$300 |
S$400 |
S$500 |
|
Premium: Maids Aged 50 Years Old and Below |
$579.96 |
$638.28 |
$721.44 |
|
Premium: Maids Aged 51 to 60 Years Old |
$1,116.72 |
$1,227.96 |
$1,387.80 |
|
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|
||
AIG Maid Insurance
|
Benefit |
Annual Limit |
|||
|
Classic |
Superior |
Elite |
Premier |
|
|
Financial Protection for Employer |
||||
|
Security Bond |
S$5,000 |
|||
|
Worldwide Personal Accident |
S$60,000 |
S$100,000 |
||
|
Hospitalisation and Surgical Expenses (Enhanced) |
Not Available |
S$60,000 |
Not Available |
S$100,000 |
|
Hospitalisation and Surgical Expenses with 20% Co-insurance |
S$60,000 |
Not Available |
S$100,000 |
Not Available |
|
Employer’s Contents |
S$15,000 |
S$30,000 |
||
|
Outpatient Accidental Medical Reimbursement |
S$1,000 |
S$2,000 |
||
|
Part-Time Helper Expenses |
S$300 |
S$500 |
||
|
Salary and Government Levy |
S$30 per day |
|||
|
Replacement Hire Expenses |
S$200 |
|||
|
Termination Expenses |
S$250 |
S$500 |
||
|
Financial Protection for Helper |
||||
|
Domestic Helper’s Belongings |
S$2,250 |
S$4,500 |
||
Tiq Maid Insurance
|
Benefits |
Plan A |
Plan B |
Plan C |
|
Security Bond – Letter of Guarantee to MOM |
S$5,000 |
||
|
Personal Accident (Accidental Death & Permanent Disablement) |
S$60,000 |
S$65,000 |
S$70,000 |
|
Medical Expenses (Accident or Injury) |
S$1,000 |
S$2,000 |
S$3,000 |
|
Repatriation Expenses |
S$10,000 |
||
|
Hospitalisation & Surgical Expenses (annual limit for in-patient expenses, including Day Surgery) Co-insurance of 25% for the amount above the first S$15,000 applies |
S$60,000 per year |
||
|
Wages & Levy Reimbursement (max 30 hospitalisation days) |
Up to S$30 per day |
Up to S$30 per day |
Up to S$30 per day |
|
Recuperation Benefits (max 30 hospitalisation days) |
Up to $10 per day |
Up to $15 per day |
Up to $20 per day |
|
Alternative Maid Services (max 30 hospitalisation days) |
|||
|
Termination/Re-Hiring Expenses |
S$250 |
S$300 |
S$350 |
|
Third Party Liability |
S$5,000 |
S$7,500 |
S$10,000 |
|
Medical Expenses Reimbursement in the Event of Abuse by Maid |
S$5,000 |
||
|
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|
||
Hong Leong Maid Insurance
|
Benefits |
Basic |
Enhanced |
Premier |
Exclusive |
|
Financial Protection for Employer |
||||
|
Personal Accident (Accidental Death & Permanent Disablement) |
S$60,000 |
S$70,000 |
S$80,000 |
S$100,000 |
|
Personal Accident (Accident Medical Reimbursement) |
S$1,000 |
S$2,000 |
S$3,000 |
S$5,000 |
|
Hospital & Surgical Expenses Annual Limit Hospital Cash (per day) |
S$60,000 Not Available |
S$60,000 S$20 |
S$80,000 S$30 |
S$80,000 S$50 |
|
Insurance Guarantee Bond – MOM |
S$5,000 |
|||
|
Repatriation Expenses |
S$10,000 |
|||
|
Termination & Re-Hiring Expenses |
S$200 |
S$300 |
S$500 |
S$600 |
|
Liability to Third Parties |
Not Available |
S$3,000 |
S$5,000 |
S$7,000 |
|
Wages Compensation & Levy Reimbursement (per day) |
Not Available |
S$40 |
S$50 |
S$60 |
|
Home Contents |
S$5,000 |
S$10,000 |
S$15,000 |
S$30,000 |
|
Financial Protection for Helper |
||||
|
Maid’s Personal Belongings |
Not Available |
S$1,000 |
S$2,000 |
S$4,000 |
|
Premium 14 months (50 and below, with GST) |
S$386.80 |
S$424.90 |
S$445.30 |
S$528.00 |
|
Premium 26 months (50 and below, with GST) |
S$502.40 |
S$551.80 |
S$578.30 |
S$685.60 |
Related: What Happens If You Switch Domestic Workers Too Frequently?
Income Domestic Helper Insurance
|
Benefits |
Basic |
Standard |
Enhanced |
|
Accidental Death or Permanent Disability Due to Accident |
S$60,000 |
S$80,000 |
|
|
Outpatient Medical Expenses Due to Injury |
S$1,500 |
S$2,000 |
S$3,000 |
|
Domestic Helper’s Personal Liability |
S$25,000 |
S$75,000 |
|
|
Special Grant Due to Death |
Not Available |
S$2,000 |
S$3,000 |
|
Expenses if You Have to Stop Employing Your Domestic Helper |
Not Available |
S$150 |
S$500 |
|
Wages Compensation (up to 30 days) |
Not Applicable |
S$20 per day |
S$35 per day |
|
Hospital and Surgical Expenses (per year)
|
Maximum payout: S$60,000 First S$15,000 co-payment: 0% Above S$15,000 co-payment: 25% |
||
|
Sending Your Domestic Helper Home |
S$10,000 |
||
|
Security Bond to Ministry of Manpower (not applicable for Malaysian helpers) |
S$5,000 |
||
6. Paying your foreign worker’s levy
As an employer of a domestic worker, you will now need to pay a foreign levy of S$300 for your first helper and if applicable, S$450 for subsequent workers via a GIRO payment. The concessionary rate of S$60 applies to families with a young child, elderly member or person with disability.
Option 2: How to hire a maid through an agency
Using a maid agency smoothens the hiring process itself. Before you sign up, though, ensure that the agency you’re using is licensed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
MOM has a useful online tool, the EA Directory, to help potential employers hire maids through good maid agencies. It also lists down employment agencies you should avoid under its “Under revocation/suspension/surveillance” tab.
When using the EA Directory, you can filter your search by Customer Rating. But that’s not enough; you should also bear in mind these factors:
- Retention Rate: Percentage of Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) who remained with their employers for at least six months
- Transfer Rate: MDWs who have undergone transfers with one year to three or more employers
- Placement Volume: Number of MDW Work Passes approved for the agency within a year
- Experience: Number of years the maid agency has had an active licence
You can also use the following checklist as a guide when using an agency to hire your maid.
- Is your maid agency licensed by the Ministry of Manpower?
- As there’s no specific set fee limit for maid agencies, does the one you’re going for fit your budget?
- Can the maid agency match your needs to a maid who can help you best?
- Were you given a written contract and do you understand the terms and conditions within?
- Does the agency have any demerit points or worse, ever had its licence revoked?
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