6. What should an employer look for in a service agreement?

The housemaid undertakes to perform diligently all duties of domestic nature such as laundry, cooking, child/baby care, aged care, general cleaning and housekeeping. The housemaid shall be courteous and polite to the employer and members of the household and shall behave properly at all times.

The housemaid shall render service not exceeding 16 hours a day. Employer shall provide the housemaid 8 hours of continuous rest daily in-addition to reasonable rest periods during working hours.

The housemaid shall be given 1 day-off a month or the terms that is mutually agreed upon between the employer and housemaid. If the housemaid is obliged or agrees to work on her day-off, she shall be compensated with additional salary for the day she works. 

The housemaid shall receive a basic salary effective from the commencement date with the employer. The salary schedule shall be prepared and explained to the employer and housemaid.

Agency fee covers our services which includes:

1. Replacement period should be specified, eg: 90 days from the date the domestic worker starts work
2. The cost of replacement should be clearly stated:
• if free, then no buts, no surprises
• if X dollars is quoted, then there should be no additional charges
3. If the agent quotes a "package" price, then he should furnish the prerequisites without additional cost, viz:
• Letter of Guarantee (by Insurance Company) in lieu of $5,000 cash for the Security Bond
• Insurance - Personal Accident, Hospitalization and Repatriation of Remains
• Meeting at the airport, Medical Check-up (applicable for new arrivals only, not domestic helpers on transfer)
• Collection of Work Permit

1. It is compulsory for all first-time employers of housemaids to attend the Foreign Domestic Worker Employers’ Orientation Programme (FDWEOP). Failure to comply with the new requirement will render the work permit application unsuccessful. Log-on to Ministry of Manpower for more information on registration of FDWEOP. A certificate of attendance will be issued upon completion of course.
2. Basic requirement to employ a housemaid is that you are required to have an annual income of S$30,000 or a combined income of S$30,000 between employer and spouse.
3. Signature will short-list a selection of bio-data for your review and confirmation.
4. Signature shall provide a hassle-free processing of the application for you and ensure the prompt arrival of the housemaid.

All employers are required to execute a Security Bond with the Work Pass Division. Under the bond, employers are required to post a security deposit of S$5000 per housemaid. The deposit can be made in the form of a Banker’s or Insurance Guarantee. If the housemaid runs away (cannot be found) or pregnant the employer risks losing S$5000 to the Work Pass Division.

The Security Bond Protector is an optional insurance which the employer may want to purchase. The Security Bond Protector is to protect the Security Bond i.e. if the housemaid runs away (cannot be found) or pregnant, the insurance company will pay S$4750 to Work Pass Division and employer to pay an excess of S$250 instead of S$5000 if such incidences occur.

Bring the domestic’s maid passport and work permit card to a police station to file for a missing report. Inform Signature’s about the runaway, we will try our very best to locate her, and advise you on the necessary procedures.