Getting an affordable maid in Singapore can significantly impact your daily routine and help streamline household responsibilities. Having a domestic helper can ease household tasks and help with caring for elderly family members, all while managing the maid cost in Singapore effectively, whether you work full-time, are a parent with young children, or are a caretaker for them. But before you hire a maid, you need to know how much it will cost. There are more costs than just the maid’s income. Proper planning for both one-time and ongoing expenses will help you avoid unexpected hidden costs. This full guide will explain all the costs of hiring a maid in Singapore so you can make an informed choice.
One-Time Costs for Hiring a Maid
When you hire a domestic helper in Singapore, you will have to pay a few one-time fees up front. How much these charges will depend on how you recruit a maid: directly, through a maid transfer, or a maid agency.
Agency Fee
You should be ready to pay an agency fee if you hire a maid through one. This price pays for the agency’s overhead, such as checking out potential maids, helping with work permit applications, and making travel plans like booking flights. In Singapore, the fees for an affordable maid agency typically range from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the service provided.
Agencies are a quick and easy way to hire a maid, but they cost more. If you’re looking to hire a maid cheaply, opting for a maid transfer can save you money compared to hiring a new maid. When you hire a maid transfer, you hire someone who is already working as a maid in Singapore and wants to move to a new job. This choice usually costs less for airfare and other related charges.
Work Permit Application and Issuance
Employers should also be aware of the maid contract renewal process to ensure the continuation of their maid’s work permit after the initial period. You have to pay $35 to apply, and then you have to pay another $35 to get the work permit if it is accepted.
Settling-In Programme
New maids must attend a Settling-In Programme (SIP), a required step, which adds to your helper cost breakdown for first-time hires. This program costs $76.40, and it only works if the maid is new to Singapore. You don’t have to pay this fee if you’re hiring a maid who is already working in Singapore.
Security Bond
MOM needs a $5,000 security bond for each maid you recruit, although this doesn’t apply to maids from Malaysia. The government can be sure that both the employer and the maid will follow the rules of the work permit because of this relationship. If the maid’s work visa is terminated and she goes back to her home country, the bond is returned as long as she didn’t break any laws or rules while she was working.
Maid Insurance
It is against the law for Singaporean employers not to give their maids insurance. Medical bills, accidents, and personal liability must all be covered by the basic insurance policy. The Income Domestic Helper Insurance costs roughly $486.14 for 26 months and gives a maid the coverage she needs to stay healthy. It costs the same to employ a new maid or have a transfer maid come to your house.
Ongoing Monthly Costs
You will also need to plan for monthly installment charges that come up again and again, such as the maid’s wages, taxes, living costs, and other fees that come up from time to time.
Maid Salary
Depending on her nationality, experience, and talents, a foreign domestic worker’s pay can be different. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) doesn’t specify a minimum wage for maids, although most employers follow the minimum compensation rules imposed by the maid’s home country.
Here is a list of the minimum monthly pay for each nationality:
- $450 for Myanmar
- Sri Lanka: $497
- $550 for Indonesia
- Philippines: $570
But you might have to pay more based on things like the maid’s experience, talents, and whether you’re employing a transfer maid (a woman who is currently working in Singapore). Maids with a lot of experience, especially those who can care for the elderly or crippled, can make more money, from $1,000 to $1,500.
In Singapore, the average salary for a maid is about $600. To get reliable and motivated maids, though, you should give a competitive salary.
Maid Levy
The Singapore government requires everyone to pay the maid levy. The maid’s salary in Singapore starts at $300 a month for the first helper you hire, but may increase depending on experience and nationality. If you hire more maids, the charge goes up to $450 per month for each new maid.
But families with kids under 16, elderly family members over 67, or family members who require help with daily tasks may be able to get a levy reduction, which lowers the monthly charge to $60.
Living Expenses
When you hire a maid, you also have to pay for her daily necessities. Food, cell phone credit, public transportation, and utilities are all part of living costs. Living costs might add up to roughly $270 a month on average.
- $150 for food
- Credit for your cell phone: $19.90
- $100 for public transportation
Living expenses can vary depending on additional tasks, and the maid’s salary in Singapore may increase if your helper takes on extra responsibilities like traveling with your family.
Medical Costs
It is your job as an employer to pay for your maid’s health insurance. You need to offer a policy that covers both inpatient care and accidents, with a minimum coverage level of $60,000 per year.
The cost for medical and accident insurance is approximately $250 to $400 annually, depending on the provider and coverage package. The maid must also have a medical exam every six months, which costs between $60 and $80.
Working on Rest Days
In Singapore, maids are allowed to have one day off each week. You have to pay your maid if she agrees to work on her day off. At the very least, the pay should be equal to one full day’s work. For instance, if your maid makes $600 a month, having her work on her day off would cost you about $46 for two extra days of labor in a month.
One-Off and Miscellaneous Costs
Some extra costs may come up when you hire a maid, in addition to the obvious ones. These can be things like administrative fees, unforeseen personal needs, and extra duties that may come up while she is working. It’s easy to forget about these extra charges, but they are important to include in your overall budget.
Placement Fee/Maid Loan
To compensate for their administrative costs, most maid agencies demand a placement fee or a maid loan. This charge is usually equal to one month’s pay, and the maid can get it back from her pay in the first several months of work. The placement fee, on the other hand, is not an expense for the employer because it is taken out of the maid’s pay.
Airfare
If you hire a maid from another country, you will have to pay for her flight to Singapore. This is usually included in the upfront price and might be anywhere from $500 to $1,000, depending on where the maid is from.
Training and Medical Screening
To work as a maid in Singapore, a woman must first pass a medical exam and a training program that meets MOM’s standards. The charges for medical examinations and training might add up to about $200.
Other Costs to Consider
There are certain extra charges that you might not think about right away when you hire a maid, but you should include them in your budget. These expenditures can include medical care, travel expenses, and even unexpected charges like extra training or administrative fees that come up while you are working.
Medical Treatment and Emergency Expenses
You have to give your maid health insurance, but it’s important to remember that medical emergencies and illnesses can still happen. You may have to pay for your maid’s medical care up front if she needs it outside of the standard coverage or if she gets hurt while working in your home. This is especially true if the current insurance plan doesn’t cover these costs.
This could include going to the doctor, taking medicine, or having an emergency surgery. Most basic health insurance plans cover hospital stays, but they may not necessarily cover the whole cost of continued medical care or rehabilitation, depending on the policy. When hiring a domestic helper, keep this in mind because these expenditures can be hard to forecast.
Additional Training or Skills Certification
Some employers may want their maids to get more training to deal with certain jobs, like taking care of elderly parents, managing home tasks, or learning how to cook new dishes. Some optional training, like specialized caregiving classes, might increase your maid cost comparison, but can enhance the quality of work. For instance, specialist caregiver training or childcare certification could cost between $200 and $1,000, depending on how long and the course type.
Travel Expenses for Maid’s Vacation
You might also have to pay for your maid’s travel fees if you want to take her on holiday or if she needs time off to go back to her home country. A lot of companies will pay for the maid’s flight home, especially if she has been working for them for a year or two. If your maid has been with your family for a long time, this is a fee you should think about.
The employer of the maid usually pays for the return flight, which might be anywhere from $400 to $1,200, depending on where the maid is from. If you take your maid on family trips, you may also have to pay for her travel costs, unless you and she agree otherwise.
Overtime Pay
Be ready to pay your maid for the extra work if you sometimes need her to work more than her regular hours. Usually, overtime pay is calculated at a higher rate, like 1.5 to 2 times her daily wage. You will have to pay your maid more if you want her to work on weekends or holidays. This could make your monthly budget go up.
There are laws from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore about working beyond hours. Make sure that your maid’s extended hours of work follow these standards. Remember that difficulties at work, including working too much, can lead to burnout. That’s why it’s crucial to treat your maid well so they don’t get mad or leave.
Long-Term Considerations
When hiring a maid, it’s important to consider the long-term costs, not only the one-time fees and the compensation. These fees normally come up after the maid has been working for a while. They could be for extra paperwork, renewals, or changes in the maid’s job that weren’t anticipated. When you think about the whole expense of hiring a domestic helper, you need to keep these in mind.
Maid Employment Contract and Termination Fees
When you hire a maid, it’s vital to have a clear work contract. This contract should specify the maid’s pay, hours of work, duties, and benefits. Setting clear expectations from the outset is vital to avoid any confusion later.
You should also be ready to pay any fees that come up if you decide to stop the contract early. If you end the contract early, you might have to pay extra fees, such as a month’s income, the cost of the maid’s airfare home, and any legal or contractual fees that come up.
You could have to go through more legal formalities if your maid quits or works for someone else, and it could hurt your relationship. You should be ready for problems that can happen while the maid is working for you.
End of Employment Costs
At the end of the employment period, there will be a lot of costs to end the maid’s contract. Assuming she has to pay for her flight back to her home country, the return of her security bond (assuming all conditions are completed), and maybe even a refund for any salary or benefits that are still owing, these costs could be included.
It’s also typical to pay the maid a bonus or tip at the end of her contract, even though the law doesn’t mandate it. Some businesses also give her a gift to say “thank you” or even help her reach her career or personal goals when she leaves.
When Hiring a Maid May Not Be the Best Option
Having a maid can be useful, but it’s not always the best choice for every family. You might want to think again about hiring a maid if:
Short-Term Needs: If you only need help around the house for a little while, it might be cheaper to hire a part-time cleaner or use housekeeping services. Part-time cleaning services are usually cheaper than full-time ones, costing $15 to $25 per hour.
If you can’t afford to hire a maid every month, you might want to look for other ways to obtain help around the house. This could include obtaining aid with cleaning, enlisting support from relatives, or using technology to make things easier, such as robotic vacuum cleaners.
If you’re only going to be in Singapore for a short time or on a short-term project, hiring a maid might not be a good choice because it takes a lot of time and work. Instead, consider employing temporary workers or contracting someone else to do the cleaning when you need it.
Some families might not want a live-in helper because they want to keep their privacy. If you don’t want someone else living in your house and appreciate having your own space, part-time support or services from outside can be a better fit.
Alternatives to Hiring a Maid
If you decide that hiring a full-time maid isn’t the best choice for you, here are some alternative things you can do:
Part-Time Cleaner
You have greater freedom if you work as a part-time cleaner. Cleaners normally charge between $15 and $30 an hour, depending on how much work they need to complete. This is perfect for people who don’t require help all the time but might use some extra hands with their regular cleaning.
Childcare Services
If you have little children, it would be better to hire a part-time babysitter or caretaker. Depending on the hours and services needed, this may be a less expensive option than hiring a full-time housekeeper.
Elderly Care Services
You might wish to engage a competent caregiver or use aged care services if you need support with an elderly person. These caregivers can take care of your medical needs and offer you company, and they normally cost less than full-time housekeepers.
Home Automation
Robotic vacuums, dishwashers, and autonomous lawn mowers are just a few examples of home automation products that can make chores around the house easier. These gadgets do cost money up front, but they can aid busy families by cutting down on the need for help around the house.
Conclusion
If you want to hire a maid in Singapore, you need to make a strategy and set a budget. There could be a lot of expenses, both one-time and monthly, that add up to a lot. Depending on where they live, their nationality, and how much experience they have, you can pay your maid between $1,000 and $3,000 to start, and then between $906 and $1,146 a month for income, maid levy, and living costs.
However, the benefits of hiring a maid, such as a better work-life balance, more time with family, and not having to do chores around the house, can make the expense worth it. Understanding the full scope of the maid cost in Singapore and ensuring it aligns with your family’s financial situation is crucial before committing to this service.
