Bringing a helper into your home for the first time can feel overwhelming, with talk of Work Permits, levies, bonds and orientation programmes. The good news is that the process follows a clear order, and once you see the whole path it is very manageable. Here is the full step-by-step guide for first-time employers in Singapore.
Step 1: Check that you are eligible to hire
Before anything else, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) needs to confirm you can employ a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW). MOM looks at factors such as your age, your income, and your ability to support a helper financially. If you are sponsoring through a family member, that person’s details matter too.
- You generally need to be at least 21 years old.
- You should have a genuine need, for example caring for children, elderly parents, or running a busy household.
- Your financial situation must be able to cover salary, levy, insurance, food, medical care and home leave over time.
Step 2: Complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP)
If this is your first time hiring a helper, MOM requires you to complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) before the Work Permit is issued. It is a short course that walks you through your responsibilities, your helper’s rights, and how to build a fair, respectful working relationship. Treat it as genuinely useful preparation rather than a box to tick.
Step 3: Choose your helper
This is where a licensed agency makes life easier. You can shortlist candidates by nationality, experience, language, and skills such as infant care, elderly care, cooking or pet care. Take time to read each biodata carefully and prepare interview questions that reflect your real daily needs.
Tip: Match the helper to your actual household, not an ideal one. If you have a newborn, prioritise real infant-care experience and references. If you have an elderly parent who needs mobility support, ask about that specifically during the interview.
Step 4: Settle the paperwork and Work Permit
Once you have chosen a helper, the formal applications begin. The key pieces are:
- Work Permit application through MOM, which your agency typically handles on your behalf.
- Security bond of $5,000, a binding undertaking to MOM. This is waived for Malaysian helpers.
- Insurance: medical insurance and personal accident insurance are mandatory for every helper.
- The levy: a monthly Foreign Domestic Worker levy. Eligible families with a young child, an elderly member, or a person with disabilities may qualify for a concessionary levy rate. Levy amounts can change, so check MOM for the latest figures.
Step 5: Prepare for arrival and the first week
Before your helper lands, get her room or sleeping space ready, stock basic toiletries, and plan how she will travel from the airport. First-time helpers must attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP) within the first three working days, which covers safety, adjusting to Singapore, and managing stress.
- Walk her through the home, appliances and house rules calmly on day one.
- Agree on her salary, rest day and off-day arrangements in writing.
- Be patient: even an experienced helper needs a week or two to learn your household’s routine.
Step 6: Stay compliant over time
Hiring is not the end of your responsibilities. Going forward you will need to send your helper for a mandatory medical examination every six months (the 6ME), keep her insurance valid, pay salary on time, and provide proper rest. Since 1 January 2023, your helper is entitled to at least one rest day a month that cannot be compensated away with pay, so always plan a genuine day off.
How Ming Hwee helps
As a MOM-licensed agency (Licence 12C6072), Ming Hwee guides first-time employers through every step, from EOP and shortlisting to the Work Permit, insurance and a smooth arrival, so nothing slips through the cracks. If you are ready to begin, find your helper with us or reach out on WhatsApp and we will help you start the right way.
