Work Permit for Overseas Domestic Workers in Singapore

Overseas citizens can come to Singapore to work under the Singapore Work Permit for Overseas Domestic Workers (FDW). Overseas domestic workers work in the home of a Singapore employer doing household and domestic tasks. But not every person can appeal to become an FDW in Singapore. Only citizens from specific nations meet the requirements.

Both the overseas domestic worker and the employer have to come across specific standards to be qualified to get a Work Permit.

Admissibility standards for the employer

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Cannot be an undischarged insolvent
• The employer must not have any mental illness or disability which can spoil their capacity to oversee the FDW

Admissibility standards for the overseas domestic worker

• The FDW should be female
• She must be over 23 years of age and under 50 years old when applying
  • Claimants over 50 years old cannot appeal for the first time. They can only renew their Work Permit
• She should be from one of the following nations:

• FDW should have a minimum of 8 years of formal education

When an employer recruits an Overseas domestic worker, they should be alert that the FDW:

• Requires to have a legal Work Permit
• Can work for one employer only
• Only performs domestic or household tasks
• Works at the same address where the employer lives
• Has to stay in the same household as their employer
• Not permitted to take up any other work
• It is allowed to have one salaried rest day a week.

Besides, there are specific circumstances and necessities that both the FDW and the employer have to obey. These comprise:

Health Insurance: The employer has to provide overseas domestic worker medical insurance covering:

• A minimum of $15,000 per year during her stay in Singapore
• Hospitalization, medicinal crises, and surgical procedure

The employer should also get the employer Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), which:

• A minimum of S$60,000.
• Covers unexpected and unforeseen accidents

Medical Test: In two weeks of the overseas domestic worker arriving in Singapore, the employer has to send her to get a medical test at a Singapore-listed doctor. The employer and the FDW should have the Medical Test Form, which can be downloaded from MOM’s website.

Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP): Employers who are appealing to get a Work Permit for hiring FDW for the first time will require to attend the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP).

Settling-In Programme (SIP) For The FDW: An overseas domestic worker coming to work in Singapore for the first time has to appear at a Settling-In Programme. The event only lasts one day, and it covers the following themes:

• Familiarizes the FDW to Singapore
• Home security
• The situations of employment
• Handling stress and management

The FDW cannot begin to work until she has joined the program.

Security Bond: Employers have to purchase security bonds for each FDW they have unless she is Malaysian. The security bond acts as insurance that the employer will compensate for a cost of up to S$5,000 to the government. The employer has to compensate the security bond if:

• The employer or the worker interrupts any of the Work Permit or security bond instructions
• If the employer does not compensate the FDW her wage on time
• If the employer does not make sure the FDW has returned home after the expiry of the Work Permit
• If the FDW is missing

FDW Charge: The employer has to compensate a monthly charge for any overseas domestic workers that they have:

• For first-time: S$300 per month
• For the following FDW: S$450 per month
• In case of charge concession): S$60 per month

When the Singapore employer submits the Overseas Domestic Worker Permit appeal, they should provide various supportive papers. These contain:

• The employer is a Singapore national: photocopy of their ID card
• The employer is not a Singapore national: photocopy of their Employment or Dependent’s Pass
• The employer is an LTVP owner:
  • Photocopy of their LTVP Pass
  • Copy of their child’s birth documentation or Student Pass (if appropriate)
• Documents verifying the employer’s salary, as well as the earnings of their spouse
• Photocopy of the FDW’s valid passport
• If the FDW is from Malaysia:
  • A photocopy of her ID Card
  • A photocopy of her SPM certificate
• Photocopies of the birth documentation of the employer’s children (if appropriate)
• Photocopy of the ID Cards of the employer’s parents

The employer is responsible for submitting the appeal to recruit an overseas domestic worker in Singapore. There are two conducts of submitting the request: (1) online and (2) manually.

Applying online: The online appeal procedure for a work permit for an FDW is as follows:

• FDW provides a consent letter to the employer, affirming she agrees to be employed
• The employer signs in to the Ministry of Manpower’s Online Application System, and finalizes the application
• They affix the needed documents
• The employer compensates the appeal processing charge (S$35)
• If the appeal is permitted, they will get an in-principle approval (IPA) letter which they should give to the FDW

Appealing manually: The manual appeal procedure for a work permit for an FDW is as follows:

• FDW provides a consent letter to the employer, affirming she agrees to be employed
• Employer get the Work Permit appeal form MOM’s official web portal
• They affix all the obligatory documents
• They compensate the S$35 processing charge and keep the money receipt
• They submit the appeal at a SingPost branch so they can mail it to the MOM
• If the appeal is permitted the MOM mails the employer the in-principle approval (IPA) letter  which they should give to the FDW

The overseas domestic worker has to appear the Settling-In Programme (SIP) and medical test prior to the employer appeals to get the Permit issued. The procedure of requesting to issue the work permit is as follows:

• The employer signs in and appeal via MOM’s Online Appeal System
• They give the address where MOM can send the Card
• They compensate the S$35 fee
• They print the Temporary Work Permit, which:
  • Permits the FDW to arrive and leave Singapore till they get their Card
  • Let’s the FDW to begin working
  • Informs the FDW if she requires to register her fingerprints and photograph

A Work Permit for an overseas domestic worker is legal for a maximum of up to 2 years, and it can be renewed. When renewed, it is legal for an additional two years. The Ministry of Manpower provides the employer with a renewal letter eight weeks before the overseas domestic worker’s Permit ends. After getting the FDW renewal letter, the employer can submit the appeal to renew it online.