Recent Chaos in hiring Filipino Maid

Hi all,

For those of you that are looking for Filipino maid, I am writing this just to let more people aware what is happening after June 2013. There are a few rules that the Philippine embassy enforce which make it even more harder for the Filipino maid to be hire.


Starting from June 2013, Philippine embassy enforce the rules that all Philippine workers' hiring expenses to be paid by the employer. Employer cannot force the worker to work for them if the worker do not wish to. Employer have send the worker back to their own country and the employer cannot stop them, even with a contract stated.

Personally I find all these rules unfair and unacceptable.

As you all know, when hiring a Filipino worker, you need to engage a Philippine agent and a Singapore agent to do the POEA. So naturally both side's agent would want to make a profit out of it. with all the food, lodging, airtickets, transport etc etc cost to bring the maid into Singapore. The total cost incur would be more than $3000. As long as the worker find it unsuitable to work with you, they have the right to go to embassy and stop the employment straight away. Employer risk losing all the expenses paid, and further more, have to send the worker back to their original country.

Any agent found to be caught or even a complain from the worker that breach the rules, will have their license suspended by the embassy. Because of these, there are many agent in Singapore stop hiring worker from Philippine. but rather, only do transfer maid in Singapore.

Why is the agent only do transfer maid?

Here is the reason,

The transfer maid is already in Singapore. The agent only need to fulfil the laws of Singapore to do the placement. so, for most agent, they are pushing the cost of hire to the worker, so that the employer do not have to incur the hiring expenses. but that is not legal as far as Philippine embassy is concern.
Which means, the agency in Singapore skip the Philippine's side documents when doing transfer. so that part of expenses incur will be bear by the worker. so in this way, both party bear some of the expenses.

Having to said all that, there are still some of the agency going through other means to bring the maid into Singapore. so for those who are hiring Filipino maid, you might find a huge different in cost of hire with different agent.

Those who go through the proper channel might find that employer are bearing a huge amount of cost, estimate more than $3000 with no guarantee of success employment.

So, is chaos everywhere, good luck for everyone hiring. Stay calm and go through carefully. Good luck!

Hiring a Maid, Direct hire and Agent Hire

I am starting this blog to share information in Singapore about Hiring a Philippine domestic helper. I am operating an Employment Agency myself. The name of my company is BEE LEE MAID AGENCY LLP. so feel free to share additional information. i will answer your questions to the best i can. :)

I shall start in writing about Direct Hire.

A Direct hire Maid means you know the maid in person, you have her contact number etc. you both agree to enter into the employer employee relationship. So the process of the paper work begin

1. To start of, as a employer, you must first attend a Employer Orientation program set up by MOM( ministry of manpower) which you can find here. http://www.sp.edu.sg/wps/portal/vp-spws/spws.cet.coursecat.csedetails/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/Lib-SPWS/site-spwebsite/lifelong+learners/short+courses/fdw-eop+foreign+domestic+worker+employers+orientation+programme(+short+courses+-+foreign+domestic+worker+employers+orientation+programme)

This is a program to help understand mom requirement and the general rules for hiring a FDW in singapore.

2. Once you complete the first step, now you need to apply for a IPA ( in principle approval ) from the MOM to bring in the maid from their country of origin. You can do this by yourself or by engaging an employment agency in Singapore, usually after submitting your documents, NRIC, income tax, the worker passport etc it can take up to 7 working days to obtain the IPA. 

3. Insurances

After you obtain the IPA, you can now use the IPA letter to purchase the insurance with security bond.

With IPA and Insurance, make sure that the security bond is successfully transmitted to MOM by checking with the insurance company, the FDW are allow to enter Singapore as a Domestic helper. BUT WAIT,

This part only spell out what is requirements for the Singapore laws. The more tricky part is from the country of origin of the FDW.

4. As you know, different country have different requirements for their own people. Here is what happen

Obtain An OEC ( Oversea Employement Contract ) 

You cannot avoid the agency even if it is ‘direct-hire’: If the maid you want to direct-hire is in Philippines, the word ‘direct-hire’ is a little mis-leading. As per the regulations implemented in JUN / JUL-2010 by Philippines Embassy, Singapore, all maids who wish to work in Singapore from Philippines MUST do proper paperwork through POEA (Philippines Oversees Employment Administration). POEA formalities and paperwork are quite intense for which employers will need an agency in Philippines who can get this paperwork done for their maid. Since, the employers in Singapore would not know the agencies in Philippines, they need to engage some agency in Singapore who will have their contacts with agencies in Philippines. The agency is required primarily to do the paperwork in Philippines. Approved maid-agencies in Singapore are listed on the Philippines Embassy website. Most maid agencies in Singapore who deal with Filipino maids are approved by Philippines Embassy, Singapore. 

The labour office in the embassy only allows the employer to do the documents themself  if he/ she has employ the worker for more than 2 years. Another words, you can only do renewal yourself but you cant direct hire a fresh new worker. So you need a Singapore Agent if you need to hire a new worker.

Once you completed the requirements for the both country, then you can legally bring in the FDW from the country of origin.

5. After the FDW come into Singapore, if she is a fresh maid who never work in Singapore, she need to go for medical check up in approve clinic for medical screening and to attend a SIP course. you can register for the course after the FDW arrival. http://www.gracemanagement.com.sg/ 

FDW who have work in Singapore before ( EX Singapore Maid) does not require to do the SIP course but she still need to go for medical screening.

6. After the FDW successfully attend the SIP and pass her medical screening, you now need to request to MOM to Issue the work permit card. If you are engaging an agent, the agent will help you to do this. You can log on to work permit online if you are doing it on your own. upon successful of the issue of work permit card. you need to bring the worker to MOM for finger print registration. and obtain her Physical work permit card. Follow the requirements on the Issuewance letter. 

Once the finger print registration is completed. The worker is officially working in Singapore.

The cost involve in the hiring include

1. IPA application fee $30

2. Insurance with security bond. The cost range for this is around $200++ to 300++ depending on the package of insurance you chose. there are many insurance company that provide the cover for this. so just search around.

3. OEC 

The agencies in Singapore charges around $1200-$1500 This amount should include 

 a. one way ticket from Philippine to Singapore. 

 b. All the training required by POEA.

 c. Medical check up prior to enter Singapore.

 d. OEC certificate and the Exit permit from Philippine.

4. Medical check up in Singapore $55-$75

5. SIP course. $75

6. Issue of work permit card $30

I hope you find this information useful. feel free to drop me any question. Cheers