The frequency of cleaning sessions for a full-time domestic helper is customisable since she is living with you. It’s contrary to a part-time helper whose sessions are limited and often dependent on the pre-set package that you’re availing.
The minimum salary of an domestic helper in Singapore is $450 a month. It is generally fixed and bound by the contract,which is strikingly different from the rates of a part-time helper, which is dependent on the size of your home, frequency of cleaning, and other surcharges. You could be paying as much as $660 a month when you hire a part-time helper.
Much like the frequency of sessions, the job scope of an domestic helper is customisable, but of course, with the safety and welfare of the employee in mind. Meanwhile, the job scope of a part-time helper is pre-determined by the cleaning packages provided by their agency.
Of the hundreds of thousands of maids in Singapore, the majority are from the Philippines. Filipinos are one of the most coveted nationalities for domestic help in the world, including in Singapore. In fact, there’s truth in the saying that you’ll find a Filipino in every country in the world.
Good command of English, thus good enough for communication and understanding to carry out your instructions
Warm and friendly nature, are adept in interacting and taking care of kids. They are also dog loving people which would surely benefit families with pets
Versatile and tends to handle difficult tasks better or have multi-tasking skills when accompanied with good guidance and training
Singapore also has a substantial number of maids from Indonesia. These maids are regarded for their easy-going, warm and friendly personalities, willingness to learn and improve, as well as sociable and patience with children and the elderly. These traits make them in-demand particularly among households with infants, kids, and seniors.
Familiar and flexible to adapt to employers preferences in terms of cooking as we mostly shared the similar Asian palette
Known to pick up English, Mandarin, Malay languages and even dialects relatively quickly which sits well with the elderly family members
Sociable and patient with infant, kids, and the elderly
Affordability is one of the driving factors behind the upsurge in the number of Myanmar maids in Singapore. In fact, the cost of hiring a Myanmar maid ranges from $450-$600 depending on their working experience. But, in addition to that, this working force is regarded for their gentle disposition and an understanding nature.
Sweet personality, good attitude and temperament, easy to get along with once the ice has been broken
Tends to be soft-spoken, work harder and determined to make a living
Willing to learn, can break the English language barrier by undergoing English proficiency training and given ample reasonable time
If you decided to hire an domestic helper, you should know that as an employer, there are rules and a set of work permit conditions that you must comply with for the duration of the helper’s employment.
While domestic helpers are not covered by the Employment Act, their rights are enforced through various regulations such as the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Over the years, this has somehow improved the rights of both the workers and employers; understanding and enforcing them can help you avoid serious offences.
As earlier said, hiring a foreign domestic helper can cost you anywhere from $450-$700 a month. However, you should know that it’s not only the basic salary that you should be concerned about. Below is a breakdown of the typical costs involved when hiring a domestic helper in Singapore.
Basic Salary
While $500 is the average, the salary of a domestic helper will depend on their educational qualification and level of working experience, thus can vary accordingly. This is on top of the food, lodging, travel, medical, and healthcare expenses of the helper, which you are required to pay separately.
Levy Charges
Another cost that you will have to pay is the levy, which you have to settle directly to the government. It costs $265 a month or $60 for a concessionary rate. To be eligible for the latter, an infant, an elderly, or a family member with disability should be living with you at your registered address.
Agency Fees
When you hire a domestic helper through an agency, you will also have to pay them a fee in exchange for their services. Fees greatly vary according to the agency you are using, but usually increase based on the reputation of the business as well as the range of services they offer.
Work Permit
On top of that, you will also have to arrange for the domestic helper’s work permit, which costs $35 for applying and another $35 for the issuance. The permit is valid for two years and must be renewed after expiration.
Insurance and Other Medical Costs
It’s mandated by law to insure your helper with medical and accident insurance with an annual minimum coverage of $15,000 and $60,000, respectively. All these are on top of the routine medical checkups and exams you have to pay for at least once every 2 years.
Travel Expenses & Settling In
You will also have to pay for the cost of getting your domestic helper to Singapore. Airfare may cost you anywhere from $200-$600 and may vary depending on the season. You will also have to shoulder the $75 fee of a Settling in Programme (SIP), which your helper will have to undergo upon their arrival.
Performance Bond
Last on the list is the cost of security bond between you, as an employer, and the government. It usually serves as a protection for both the employer and the domestic helper and a guarantee that both parties are complying with the conditions stated in the Work Permit.
1
What kind of accommodation should helpers be provided with?
Aside from safe working conditions, employers should also ensure a safe and inhabitable accommodation for domestic helpers. They should be provided with a separate room and in case it isn’t possible, the employer must at least ensure there’s enough space and privacy for the helper.
2
How much food should you provide?
The MOM mandate that domestic helpers should have the same amount of food the employers need themselves, which is three nutritious meals at minimum. In case the helper has certain dietary requirements due to health, religion, or by choice, the employer should accommodate it, even if it means providing them with money to buy their own.
3
What else should you be aware as an employer of an domestic helper?
Aside from medical care, employers should also shoulder the costs in the unfortunate event that a helper is hospitalized and may require surgery. This further illustrates the importance of safe working conditions as well as medical and personal accident insurance for the domestic helper.
We can’t stress enough the importance of reflecting on whether or not you should hire a full-time maid. The best way to go on about it is to analyse your needs and your level of commitment to make the hiring a success.
Aside from the potential benefits, you should also assess the other factors that come with it. For instance, hiring a full-time maid means a non-family member will be in your home 24/7 and will somehow be included in your family decisions. It also comes with additional household expenses hence, you have to make sure that you’re earning more than what you’re paying for the help.
Understand your needs, evaluate your options, and come up with an informed decision. In many instances, you’ll find that hiring a maid is your best option. They are capable of doing anything from childcare to elderly care, household help, and more — and that’s without the need to hire another worker to do each job. While it may seem expensive, hiring a full-time maid can actually save you money in the long run.
At Recruitbee, we want to see happy customers relieved of the stresses from household needs and at the same time
we wish to help out foreign domestic helpers obtain gainful employment.
Doreen did a great job to help us employ a very suitable Helper for my 92 years old father. Very professional and detailed to our requirements.
I had been searching for months for a replacement helper as my current helper have expressed interest to return home. Among various agents I have lined up with, Nadia is the only one who truly understood my needs. I am very satisfied with the services provided by Nadia. It was during the Circuit Breaker period when we decide to get a new helper. With her recommendation and her experience, we managed to get a reliable domestic helper for my family, Ani Fatmawati is very hardworking and has good positive attitude who is adjusting well to our needs and she gets along well with my children too. I am very grateful. Thank you Nadia & Recruitbee! Definitely will recommend you to family and friends.
“Would like to start of by saying that working with Ms Nikki Thio for help in hiring our new helper has been really amazing. She was helpful and patient as our process took a little longer than expected. Highly recommended and I would definitely use her services and this company again. Thank you so much! We really appreciate everything.”
“I chanced upon an advertisement on the available helpers and contacted Recruitbee. Renie whatsapped enquiring on my requirements and we spoke over the phone to let her know that I’m looking for someone who is hardworking, polite, honest and love children.
Had a very bad experience from another agency. So I shared my previous experiences with Renie. And she being a mother herself totally understood my needs.
She gave me a few biodatas to choose from and we had a few videocall interviews all within a week or two before I confirmed my current helper. Renie helped shortlist the helpers that were suitable for the job and she was never pushy, instead very accommodating. The process was very smooth and professional. Everything was documented (requirements, arrangements etc)
We are very happy with our helper. She’s exactly what we expected. She gets along with everyone in the family. Their service is worth every cent we paid for. Renie is very genuine and professional. I had a very good experience engaging them. No regrets!”
“Great Service! Highly Recommended! Recruitbee personnel have been very supportive and helpful in choosing a helper for us! Great follow up too!!”
“Recruitbee is one of the best agency that u have encounter (we have been to many maid agencies!). Tilia is very caring and attentive and most important listen to what you needs.. highly recommended”
“We are very pleased and satisfied with the service rendered by Renie. Renie is a knowledgeable staff and efficient in her work. She is very helpful and prompt in replying messages and providing information.”
“I would like to thank Renie Chua from Recruitbee (Kovan) for her thoughtfulness, responsible and patient towards us. Thanks for the Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncake from Recruitbee! Much appreciates and you’ve made our day!”
“Through friend’s recommendation, I approached Renie of Recruitbee Employment in August 2020 for a Helper. Renie was able to provide me with a good selection of biodata quickly as they have their own training centre in Myanmar, thus she was able to screen their pool of helpers to meet my needs. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, my application was rejected by MOM despite many appeals. All this time, Renie’s helpful and responsive attitude really helped to ease my anxiety and stress. Although I eventually engaged a transfer helper from another agency, I wish to thank Renie for being patient, sincere and not pushy. Rene also went beyond her call of duty to speak with my sister to clarify some immigration issues she had for her helper (not from Recruitbee) during her off day. Indeed a very pleasant experience overall. I will not hesitate to recommend Renie to those who want to hire a Helper.”
“I am very satisfied with the services provided by Recruitbee especially Nadia. It was during the Circuit Breaker period when my husband and I decide to get a helper for our newborn. As this is our first time engaging a helper, Nadia made the process smooth even though there are so many restrictions due to COVID between SG & Indo. She was very helpful and she replies promptly to my inquiries. With her recommendation and her experience, we managed to get a reliable domestic helper for my family, Siti. Siti is very hardworking and has good initiative. She gets along well with my children too. I am very grateful. Thank you Nadia & Recruitbee! Definitely will recommend you to family and friends. To more successful years ahead.”
“Renie is very helpful, patience and professional. She understood our needs and shortlisted the suitable helpers that meet our constrain criteria. Thank you Renie and team of Recruitbee.”
“I was at my desperate moment to find a suitable helper after my helper of 2 years decided not to come back to Singapore after taking her home leave. Since then my agency was not able to help me find another suitable helper. When I saw this newly opened agency, I decided to try my luck. I am very pleased with the services provided to me, especially your staff, Ms Renie. Renie is not only professional, she is very responsive and helpful. She has never fail to provide me her professional advices and she managed to help me find my current Myanmar helper. I am very happy with my helper, thanks to Renie!”
“I had been searching for months for a replacement helper as my current helper have expressed interest to return home. Among various agents I have lined up with, Nadia is the only one who truly understood my needs and diligently and relentlessly searched for me a helper. She was not at all pushy nor did she give up on me. She went all out to find an Ex-Singapore maid and I’m so happy that after months of waiting we finally got a helper who is really of good quality and positive attitude who is adjusting well to our needs. Big thank you to Nadia for her hardwork and assistance and tight follow through to advice me at every step.”
“Great helpful and very friendly staff! Admire their patience in willing to listen to my requirements and worries. So far I don’t have any problem with the maid, so happy that all work out well! Would definitely recommend you to my friends.”
“Our family would like to thanks Renie for her proactive help and professionalism, really appreciate your patience and understanding! Our helper, Ailyn was selected based on her recommendation and she has been a great fit for us. Most importantly, Ailyn loves and dote our precious husky. Good job, Renie and thank you once again!”
What sets Recruitbee Helpers apart is our commitment to guide our team in listening and understanding our clients’ budget limitations and concerns.
Having years of knowledge and experience in this field, we are capable of identifying and assessing excellent candidates that match their specific needs such as infant care, childcare, elderly care, PWD care, and household chore assistance to name a few.
We strive to provide the most suitable domestic helper to our customers so they can focus on what matters to them most.
Professional & Compassion
Quality & Commitment
Honest & Reasonable Price
Responsible & Convenience
Support & Guidance
