Singapore Maid Agency Fees: Maid Cost in Singapore

Many Singaporeans consider hiring a maid to be a need rather than a luxury. Because of that, families hire maids to help relieve the burden of their daily obligations at home, owing to the development of dual-income parents as a result of rising living costs, as well as the growing elderly population and sandwich generation.

Before you take the leap and hire a maid right away, there are a few things to think about, such as the essential requirements, the cost, and the various maid agencies available.

How much are the Singapore Maid Agency Fees?

The convenience of hiring a maid through an agency can be quite beneficial for someone who is hiring a domestic helper for the first time. Singapore maid agency fees are around $1,000 (transfer maids already in Singapore) to $3,000 (overseas applicants or new applicants). Hiring a maid who is not in Singapore is more expensive due to additional processing costs (documentation at the embassy, medical checkup, serology test, flight, and transportation expenses).

When you hire a maid service, you're paying for their knowledge and connections. Maid costs in Singapore are typically high since they include a wide range of services, including screening potential FDWs, matching you with FDWs who fulfill your criteria, work permit application fees, travel expenses, bond and insurance, and lodging expenditures.

Direct hiring for Transfer Maid is a preferable option if you want to save money on this. The maid cost in Singapore will only include MOM fee ($70) and mandatory medical insurance. This includes using word-of-mouth referrals or online FDW matching platforms, which are less expensive than maid agencies.

What are the Factors That Affect Singapore Maid Agency Fees?

• Nationality of the maid: Each foreign embassy has its own set of legal documentation and administrative processes.
• Third-Party Costs: Some agencies may already include third-party costs in their fees, such as work permits, SIPs, maid insurance, and pre-medical tests, for example.
• Additional Services: These depend on the services you request from the agency. Typically, agency fees include the cost of replacing a maid as well as post-deployment services. It is critical to inform the agency if you do not require additional services so that the agency cost can be reduced.

Should You Hire a Maid Agency?

Each year, the number of maid agencies in Singapore increases. This indicates a rise in the country's demand for domestic assistants. A maid agency in Singapore can help families that need extra help around the house find the perfect maid for them.

While some employers prefer to choose a perfect domestic assistant on their own, using the services of a maid agency has a number of advantages, especially if the organization is dependable and trustworthy.

Hiring a maid yourself can save you a little bit of money and offer a large choice of candidates but remember, it would exclude some benefits ensured by a maid agency like pre-screening, scheduled interviews and preparing the working contract.

For a transfer maid in Singapore, you can easily do everything on your own. Nevertheless, you won't be able to hire a fresh domestic helper on your own; instead, you'll have to go through an agency (it's required by MOM).

If you do not want to deal with the headache of sorting through laws, regulations, and paperwork, an agency is the best way to go.

How do you find the right agency?

To begin, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) maintains a comprehensive database that you may use to locate the best maid agency in Singapore that meets your tastes and needs. You can not only look for maid agencies in Singapore by name but also by rating and avoid those on MOM's watchlist.

Let's get started on finding a dependable maid agency and the greatest helpers for you.

What are the Factors to Consider When Choosing a Maid Agency?

It makes sense to be careful with your maids as you are handing over the keys to your home and entrusting the life of your children to them. Similarly, you should be extremely cautious while choosing a maid service to guarantee that you get the greatest workers and guidance. Moreover, a lot of agencies are still charging high placement fees to the workers, be sure that your agency is an ethical company (no salary deduction, no placement fees). 

Here are some things to be on the lookout for:

1. Experience

While experience isn't always a solid indicator of quality, it's a decent starting point. Maid agencies that have had a valid Singapore license for more than five years are less likely to shut down unexpectedly after you've paid and leave you hanging.

2. The Volume of Placements in a specific Timeframe

The placement volume refers to the number of Foreign Worker (FW) work passes approved for the agency in a given year. The more placements there are, the more assistants and employers there are.

On the surface, a high placement volume indicates that the maid agency is doing okay.

3. Rate of Transfer

It is the percentage of FDWs placed by the agency who have transferred to three or more companies in the same year.

As a result, it's preferable to look for maid services with a lower transfer rate. A low transfer rate could indicate that the organization employs higher-quality workers or can better connect maids to employers.

4. Rate of Retention

The retention rate is the percentage of maids who have stayed with the same employer for at least one year after being assigned by a maid agency.

The higher the rate of retention, the better. Employers that have been with the agency for more than a year and are satisfied with the assistance they have received are given a higher rate.

However, keep in mind that you can come across an agency that has only one successful placement, with a 0% transfer rate and a 100% retention rate. Metrics like these don't accurately reflect a company's credibility.

5. Reviews and Ratings

Licensed maid agencies are rated in the MOM EA directory. The MOM website is the greatest location to gather honest feedback, which is usually from other Singapore employers.

6. Demerit Points

When maid agencies break any of the restrictions set out in the Employment Agencies Act, they are penalized with demerit points. An agency that has 12 or more demerit points will be monitored for a year.

Violations of MOM guidelines can be interpreted as uncooperative, and there are legitimate reasons to be skeptical of the services given by these maid firms.

Conclusion

Hiring a maid agency in Singapore is a big decision because it means you're going to let a stranger inside your home. If you are ready to manage by yourself the hiring process, you will save a lot of money. If you prefer to get the assistance of an agency, never forget to compare a few of them before going ahead.

We hope that this post has given you some insight into how much maid agencies in Singapore cost, and the many factors that contribute to that cost, as well as what you need to look at besides the fees.