Understanding the Process of Hiring a Good Maid in Singapore

Millions of households employ a domestic helper in Singapore to help them with their daily duties, from house cleaning, cooking, to providing care to elderly people. Most of the foreign domestic workers (FDWs) come to this country from Indonesia and the Philippines while a small number of workers come from Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar. If you're planning to hire a maid, you should know the relevant process and rules that you must follow as an employer. In this guide, you will get to know how you can hire a good foreign domestic worker in Singapore.

1. Know what's your objective of hiring a maid

Ask yourself why do you need a maid? Your life is busy. Whether you're a working professional, have school-going children, elderly or a person with a disability to take care, hiring a maid will be the best decision. Though every family is different and has different needs, hiring a helper to do the household chores will help you spend some quality time with your family. You will get more personal time. You will need to travel less for grocery shopping and other works for your home.

2. Know the maid budget and laws

Hiring a maid is costly in Singapore if you calculate all expenses, including agency fee, application fee, processing fee, insurance, documentation charges, and living costs (that include food, phone, traveling, and medical). You will have to set aside a monthly budget after hiring a maid. In Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower regulates the employment of foreign domestic workers. You can hire a maid only if you are 21 years and above, not an undischarged bankrupt, and have the mental capacity to fully understand your responsibility as an employer. MOM also checks the financial ability of the employer to hire, maintain, and upkeep the helper. First-time FDW employers must undergo an employer orientation programme that costs S$30 to S$34.50 for attending in the classroom or $46 for taking the online course.

3. Find the best maid agency in Singapore

Search online and find the best domestic helper agency in Singapore. The agency will match you with the best suitable maid as per your requirements. The application, screening, and insurance processes are completed by the agency. So all you have to do is select a maid, sign some documents, pay the fees, and you're done.

4. Interview and confirm your maid

Interviewing a maid is a vital step if you want to hire the best suitable helper for your specific needs. A few questions that you should ask a maid are:

• How long have you been working in Singapore?
• Tell me a little bit about your family
• What are her future plans?
• What housekeeping things you like to do?
• What does she like about Singapore?
• What she likes or dislikes about housekeeping?
• And more.

If you feel the maid you interviewed is the best fit for your home, you can tell the maid agency and sign a declaration form to confirm the placement. You will need to send your maid for thumbprinting as required by the Ministry of Manpower after hiring her.

5. Communicate and manage your maid

Once you have hired a maid, you need to train her to do things your way. Tell her your cleaning needs, dietary requirements, childcare needs, grocery and washing specifications, details of any elderly person at your home, and more. Communication with respect and dignity is the best way to build a good relationship with a maid and to make sure they work professionally and with enthusiasm. Keep these things in mind on how to manage a maid in Singapore:

• Set reasonable expectations
• Treat with respect and be considerate
• Be polite and give feedback
• Give proper rest and salary on time
• Be courteous
• Provide incentives for good work

Conclusion

Hiring a maid is not a difficult task if you contact a good domestic helper agency. If you know the process of hiring a domestic worker, it would be easier for you to hire a helper based on your requirements and prevent you from making mistakes. Contact the best maid agency in Singapore today if you're planning to hire a maid.

Joshua Mathew owns a maid agency in Singapore and he is proficient in managing the network of house help professionals.