FIRSTLINE Employment Agency fees starting from $488 onwards. Enquire today!
FIRSTLINE Employment Agency fees starting from $488 onwards. Enquire today!
Please whatsapp us at 88104030 or email us at info@firstline.sg if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Migrant Domestic Woker (MDW) are also called Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW),
Domestic helper (DH), Domestic worker (DW) or maid.
FIRSTLINE is a licensed employment agency established in 2024.
We strive to:
Call FIRSTLINE at 88104030 to engage your ideal domestic helper.
FIRSTLINE is a maid agency that will help you with all the tedious process of hiring FDWs such as screening for the ideal candidate, travel arrangement, medical screening, training and obtaining the work permit as required. In addition, an agent will be there to give you advice, the type of questions to interview and provide the best candidate for your requirements. An agency will give you a better understanding of the regulations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) too.
You can use the EA Directory service to find employment agencies that match your needs, check the agencies' service quality and performance, and shortlist and compare different employment agencies. Employment agencies and personnel search (EA Directory) (mom.gov.sg)
You can trust FIRSTLINE Employment in securing your domestic helper.
At FIRSTLINE, our FDWs come from Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. For other nationalities, please approach FIRSTLINE for assistance at 88104030.
As an employer, you need to meet the eligibility criteria before hiring a migrant domestic worker (MDW).
To hire a helper, you must:
MOM will also consider your care-giving needs (e.g. young children or elderly family members) and financial ability to hire, maintain and upkeep the helper in an acceptable accommodation.
If you are a first-time employer of a helper, you must attend an Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) before you can apply for a Work Permit.
Note:
You should not be diagnosed with any medical condition that would impair your ability to exercise supervision and control over the well-being of the helper.
Examples of such medical conditions include Alzheimer, dementia and schizophrenia which can cause symptoms such as severe memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, progressive loss of mental ability, paranoia, etc.
With FIRSTLINE, you will be assured that we will handle the applications for you.
Get an idea of what you need to do before, during and after you apply for a Work Permit.
Click here to find out what has to be done first. Engage FIRSTLINE to complete the hiring of your domestic helper without the need to pay additional costs and lengthy paperwork.
The foreign worker levy, commonly known as “levy”, is a pricing mechanism to regulate the number of foreigners in Singapore.
As an employer, you don’t have to pay Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for your helper. However, you must pay a monthly levy for her.
For first-time helpers, the levy will begin on the 5th day of their arrival (including the arrival date). Otherwise, the levy will begin the next day after the helper arrives.
The levy ends when the Work Permit is cancelled or expires.
For more information, please click onto the following link:
Paying levy for a migrant domestic worker (MDW) (mom.gov.sg)
With FIRSTLINE, we will guide you through the levy payment.
FIRSTLINE work with several reputable and trusted training partners from Indonesia, Philippines and Myanmar. These training schools taught our FDWs how to handle newborns and the elderly. However, a different household has different rules and instructions for the helper to follow. Employers are encouraged to provide sufficient guidance for your FDW.
Additional training will also be provided when employer work alongside FIRSTLINE to allow the domestic helper to attend courses during her working hours or scheduled date for training.
It takes approximately four to eight weeks for the helper from the overseas center to start working for the employer with all the documents and work permit being processed. However, if it is a transfer helper, it takes approximately one to two weeks instead.
With FIRSTLINE, we make sure you have the ideal domestic helper to be your best domestic aide and not rush through the process of hiring a domestic helper.
You are encouraged to sign an employment contract with your migrant domestic worker (MDW) and are required to sign a safety agreement with her.
MDWs are not covered by the Employment Act because it is not practical to regulate specific aspects of domestic work, such as hours of work and work on public holidays.
However, we encourage you to sign an employment contract with your MDW to avoid disputes.
You and your MDW must also sign a safety agreement before she starts working for you.
Employment Contract
The terms and conditions in your employment contract must be mutually agreed between you and your MDW.
As an employer, you are encouraged to cover all of the following:
You can get your employment agency to draft an employment contract for you and your MDW.
Terminating an employment contract
Early termination is allowed to maintain flexibility for you and your MDW, as circumstances may change.
Either you or your MDW can terminate the employment contract by giving the notice period stated in the employment contract. If the notice period cannot be given, the party terminating the employment should pay salary in lieu of notice. Notice period can be waived by mutual consent.
Safety Agreement
When you hire a first-time or transfer MDW, your employment agency must arrange for you and her to sign a safety agreement:
The aim of the agreement is to ensure that both of you understand MOM's restrictions for cleaning the exterior of windows.
You do not need to sign a safety agreement if you are renewing your existing MDW's contract.
When to sign:
Refer to the table for when you must sign the safety agreement:
If your MDW is Sign the agreement
A first-time MDW After the MDW has attended the Settling-In
Programme and before she starts work at
your home.
A transfer MDW Before the MDW is deployed to you.
What it covers
The safety agreement:
To ensure that your MDW fully understands the agreement, the copy she signs will be in her native language.
The agreement will be signed by three parties: you, the employment agency and the MDW. You must each keep a copy of the agreement.
You can hire a second FDW only if you have either at least 2 children below 18 years old or a parent/parent-in-law over 60 years old living with you.
With FIRSTLINE, we make sure you don't overpay the maid levy.
Your MDW’s employment must comply with the Work Permit regulatory conditions. As an employer, you will be penalised if you illegally deploy her to work at another residential address or perform non-domestic chores.
A helper:
Penalties
We understand that employers may need their helpers to take care of their child or parent at a relative’s house.
You must notify MOM before you can proceed with this arrangement. To notify MOM, you must first ensure all of the following:
As an employer, you remain responsible for your helper's upkeep and maintenance, which include providing acceptable accommodation, adequate food and medical treatment.
All first-time MDWs are required to attend the migrant domestic worker interview twice in their first year of employment.
For more information, please click onto the link below:
From 1 January 2023, all employers must ensure their MDWs have at least one rest day each month that cannot be compensated away.
However, if you and your MDW mutually agree for her to work on the remainder of her rest days, you must pay her at least 1 day’s salary for each rest day she does not take on top of her monthly salary.
With FIRSTLINE, ambiguities in this segment are prevented, ensuring that our domestic helper is rightfully compensated for her work. Employer will also be respected too.
Note: 1 day’s salary can be calculated by dividing her monthly salary by 26 working days, as there are typically 4 weeks and therefore 4 rest days in a month.
Example:
Your FDW’s monthly salary $650
Number of rest days not used in a month 2
1 day’s salary $650 ÷ 26 = $25
Payment for rest days not used $25 × 2 = $50
You should pay $650 + $50 = $700
Employer must buy a security bond for your migrant domestic worker (MDW), unless she is a Malaysian. You can buy the bond at any bank or insurance company.
A security bond is a binding pledge to pay the government if either you or your helper breaks the law or Work Permit conditions. The bond is in the form of a banker’s or insurer’s guarantee.
You must buy a $5,000 security bond for each helper you employ, except for Malaysian helpers. You cannot ask your helper to pay for the bond.
Before your helper arrives in Singapore, you must:
IMPORTANT:
If the security bond is not in effect when your helper arrives in Singapore, the immigration officer will not allow her to enter. We are unable to change the security bond effective date to allow the helper to enter Singapore. You will have to send her home immediately.
You will be discharged from the security bond liability only if you meet all of these conditions:
If all conditions are met, the security bond will usually be discharged one week after your helper has left Singapore.
You’ll be notified by post when the security bond is discharged.
Your security bond may be forfeited if any of these happens:
You will not be liable for your helper’s violations (such as those relating to pregnancy) if you can prove that you have:
With FIRSTLINE, employer will never be alone handling such unforseen situations. FIRSTLINE will always be with you.
You need to buy medical and personal accident insurance for your migrant domestic worker (MDW). Find out the coverage required.
Before your helper arrives in Singapore, you must buy medical insurance (MI) and personal accident insurance as part of your medical obligations to her. Please approach FIRSTLINE for more information about the insurance plans.
You cannot pass on the cost of purchasing the insurance to your helper.
You need to buy an MI with coverage for inpatient care and day surgery during your helper’s stay in Singapore with an annual claim limit of at least:
The personal accident insurance purchased for your helper must meet all of these requirements:
This is to protect your helper and her family by providing a lump sum compensation if she suffers from permanent disability or passes away due to an accident.
The compensation must be made payable to your helper or her beneficiaries.
With FIRSTLINE, we will assist our employer through this situation.
Employers and foreign domestic workers (FDWs) are encouraged to discuss and agree on the terms and conditions of employment at the start of the employment relationship. This includes overseas leave arrangements, such as who pays for travel expenses.
If it is not stated in the employment contract, you can come to a mutual agreement with your FDW on who should pay. To minimise disputes, this agreement should be in writing.
With FIRSTLINE, all these arrangements will be written in contract and read out to both parties.
For missing domestic helper, employer must do these within 1 week of knowing that your helper is missing:
If the helper is not found within 1 month from the date the Work Permit was cancelled, $2,500 (half of the $5,000 security bond) will be forfeited to cover the repatriation and other related costs.
Employer are to locate and repatriate her. You should inform your agency and seek advice from them. You should also cancel their work permit to prevent levy payment.
With FIRSTLINE, we will assist our employer in such situation.
For pregnant domestic helper,
The clinic or employer will have to update MOM of the helper’s pregnancy.
Period
During her six-monthly medical examination
Who should update MOM
The clinic will have to update MOM of the helper's pregnancy.
Period
Not during her six-monthly medical examination
Who should update MOM
The employer will have to update MOM of the helper's pregnancy and upload a copy of the doctor's memo.
MOM will contact her employer within 7 working days after we received the medical results.
With FIRSTLINE, we will assist our employer in such situation.
Death of a MDW in Singapore
If your helper passes away in Singapore, you need to:
With FIRSTLINE, we will assist our employer in such difficult situation.
You must apply for a new Work Permit card for your MDW within 1 week if it is lost, damaged or stolen.
Note:
Please refer to the link below for more information on the replacement or loss of Work Permit Card.
Replace a Work Permit card for migrant domestic worker (MDW) (mom.gov.sg)
With FIRSTLINE, we are just a call away.
You can educate your helper on safe working conditions and let her know what to expect when you are not at home. Provide her with information and consequences so that she will understand the danger. For example, she should not be climbing the windows when she cleans them, she should not leave the stove unattended when cooking etc.
With FIRSTLINE, we are confident that our placement is reliable, honest and also confident to their abilities. Your domestic helper will also have our number to call us should they need clarification in their work.
You should not force your helper to eat food that she is not comfortable with. However, as an employer, you are responsible to provide enough food for your helper. You may allow her to buy her own grocery so that she can cook for herself.
As a responsible employer, you must provide your MDW with 3 meals a day.
An example of a day’s food intake for a female engaged in moderate activity is as follows:
Be sensitive to your MDW’s needs when it comes to food. Do not force your MDW to eat food that she is not supposed to or is not comfortable with. For example, your MDW may not be able to eat certain food due to her religious beliefs, or she may not be accustomed to your family’s dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian food or porridge).
Please click onto the link below for more information.
Rest days, health and well-being for migrant domestic workers (mom.gov.sg)
With FIRSTLINE, we will only present trustworthy and reliable domestic helpers to potential employers.
The notice period gives foreign domestic workers (FDWs) and employers time for a smooth handover and transition.
Just like with any other employment contract, responsible FDWs who decide to end their employment contracts early need to either serve the notice period, or pay in-lieu of notice. You should explain to your FDW that she is contractually bound to serve the notice period, and discuss with your FDW to find a mutually agreed solution.
There are some cases where FDWs may need to terminate their contract early, without being able to pay the salary in lieu of notice. Employers are encouraged to exercise compassion where appropriate, and find a mutually agreed solution, such as a shorter notice period or waiving part of the salary in lieu of notice.
If your FDW is leaving and you have urgent caregiving needs, you may approach an employment agency that is under the Advance Placement Scheme to hire another FDW quickly.
AT FIRSTLINE, we will position ourselves as a mediator and to seek out the best possible arrangement for the employer and domestic helper.