Most first-time employers think carefully about salary, rest days and duties, but few plan for one very ordinary situation: what happens when your helper gets sick or hurt. This guide explains how maid sick leave in Singapore actually works, who pays the medical bills, what the compulsory insurance does and does not cover, and how to look after both your helper and your household while she recovers.
Illness is stressful for both sides. Employers worry about the house running smoothly; helpers often worry about losing income or being blamed, which is why some hide symptoms until they get worse.
The families who handle it best have a calm plan before anything happens. A good Singapore domestic helper agency will guide you, but it helps to know the rules yourself so you can act quickly and fairly.
We link to the official Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and SCDF pages throughout. This is general guidance, not medical advice. If you think your helper is seriously unwell or injured, call 995.
Maid sick leave in Singapore: what the rules say
Start with a point that surprises many employers. Migrant domestic workers are not covered by the Employment Act. They are protected under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and its Work Pass regulations instead. MOM’s FAQ on paid sick leave for Work Permit holders makes clear that the statutory sick leave entitlement applies to employees covered under the Employment Act, so the fixed number of outpatient and hospitalisation days in that Act does not automatically apply to a helper.
That does not mean she has no protection when she is ill. What MOM does require is clear:
- Medical care is your responsibility. MOM’s page on rest days and well-being states that the employer is responsible for the helper’s medical needs, including all medical costs, hospitalisation and six-monthly medical examinations.
- Salary must be paid as declared. You must pay the salary declared in the Work Permit application, no later than seven days after the end of each salary period. MOM’s eight steps to hiring a helper warns employers never to withhold salary or make unauthorised deductions, naming food and medicine as examples.
- Insurance is compulsory. Every helper must have medical insurance and personal accident insurance, bought and paid for by you.
In practice, this means maid medical leave is something to agree in the employment contract. We recommend writing down how sick days are handled, how she should tell you she is unwell, and confirming that her salary is not reduced when a doctor certifies her unfit for work.
Who pays the medical bills
You do. MOM’s 2022 parliamentary reply on helper injuries confirms that employers are required to bear their helper’s medical expenses in Singapore, whether or not the illness or injury is related to work.
What the medical insurance covers
MOM’s insurance requirements set the rules:
- The policy must cover inpatient care and day surgery, with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000 for policies starting on or after 1 July 2023.
- For claims above $15,000, the insurer pays 75% and the employer co-pays 25%.
- From 1 July 2025, insurers pay hospitals directly once a claim is admissible, and exclusion clauses are standardised.
- You cannot pass the cost of the insurance on to your helper.
Because the policy covers inpatient care and day surgery, routine clinic visits and medicines are usually paid by you directly. MOM has estimated that the compulsory insurance covers around 99% of inpatient bills, though the co-payment can still be significant. Keep your policy number and insurer’s hotline easy to find.
Treatment overseas
If your helper falls ill while home on leave, MOM’s 2026 reply on overseas medical costs says treatment abroad during rest days or home leave is outside the scope of the employer’s liability. MOM encourages employers to advise helpers to buy travel insurance before personal trips and to agree emergency contact steps.
If she is injured: personal accident insurance
Helpers are not covered by the Work Injury Compensation Act. MOM explains why: because they live and work in the same premises as their employer, it is hard to tell whether an injury at home was work-related. Instead, you must buy personal accident insurance with a sum assured of at least $60,000 a year. It pays the helper or her beneficiaries for death or permanent disability from an accident, whether or not it happened at work.
It is not for everyday injuries: treatment for a sprained ankle or a kitchen cut is a medical expense you pay.
Minor illness or emergency? Knowing when to act
Not every sick day is a crisis, but some signs should never be ignored.
Usually minor: monitor and support
- Mild cold symptoms, or a slight fever that improves.
- Headaches, tiredness or a minor stomach upset.
For these, the SCDF points people to a GP or polyclinic, a 24-hour Urgent Care Centre, or the NurseFirst helpline on 6262 6262 for advice. Take her to a clinic if symptoms last or worsen.
Serious: act quickly
- Chest pain, breathlessness or trouble breathing.
- Fainting, loss of consciousness or seizures.
- Heavy bleeding or a major fall.
- Possible signs of a stroke.
- A high fever that will not come down, or severe vomiting or diarrhoea.
Call 995 for a real emergency such as cardiac arrest, breathlessness, unconsciousness, heavy bleeding, major trauma or stroke; emergency conveyance to hospital is free. SCDF charges $274 for each non-emergency case it conveys, and has announced that its 1777 non-emergency ambulance line will stop from 1 January 2027, with private ambulance operators, taxis or ride-hailing as alternatives for non-emergency trips to hospital.
What to do when your helper is sick or injured: step by step
- Stop the task and give rest. If she is hurt, stop what she is doing and give basic first aid only if it is safe. If she is unwell, let her rest straight away rather than pushing through “as normal”, which slows recovery and breeds fear.
- Get her seen. Note her symptoms and when they started, so the doctor can assess clearly. Bring her Work Permit details and accompany her if she is nervous or her English is limited.
- Keep the paperwork. Keep every receipt, the medical certificate and any hospital documents. You will need them for insurance claims and, for hospital stays, a levy waiver.
- Follow medical advice. Respect the rest period on the MC and the medication schedule. When she returns, start with light duties such as tidying or simple meal prep before heavy mopping, lifting or long cooking sessions.
- Review the cause. If it was an injury, work out what happened, such as a wet floor or an awkward lift, and fix it so it does not repeat.
If getting to appointments is difficult around school runs and work, our helper transportation service covers trips for medicals.
Claiming a levy waiver for hospitalisation leave
MOM’s levy waiver page sets out the rules:
- The hospitalisation leave must be issued by a Singapore-registered doctor at a local medical institution.
- The MC must show her name, FIN, the leave period, the clinic or hospital, the doctor’s name and the MC number.
- Waivers are capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.
- Apply through the “Check and pay foreign worker levy” e-service, from the 1st of the month after you receive the bill and within one year of it. Processing usually takes about 12 working days, and the waived amount is credited against your next bill.
Keep paying the levy as normal in the meantime. Our guide to the maid levy in Singapore covers rates, concessions and payment, and our guide to maid medical insurance explains the cover in more detail.
Keeping the household running while she recovers
A short backup plan makes a sick week far less stressful:
- a simple meal plan for two or three days, or ordering in;
- family members taking on specific tasks, such as school drop-offs or a parent’s medication;
- dropping non-essential chores for the week;
- booking part-time help if the house needs it.
Our part-time helpers can cover normal cleaning at $25 an hour on weekdays and $30 on weekends, or home cooking at $30 and $35, with a three-hour minimum.
If she is between employers
A helper may fall ill during a transfer between employers, which raises the question of where she should stay. Our boarding house for helpers gives helpers a stable place to stay during transition periods, reducing stress and uncertainty when health issues arise.
Prevention is better than a crisis
- Keep the home safe: non-slip mats in wet areas and chemicals stored safely, never mixed.
- Teach kitchen safety rules clearly, including knives and hot oil.
- Avoid heavy lifting without help or guidance.
- Follow MOM’s window rules. A helper must not clean the outside of a window unless it has a grille that stays locked throughout and an adult supervises.
- Keep a first aid kit and emergency numbers in one known place.
- Keep her six-monthly medical examinations up to date. You pay for them, and a missed check can lead to the Work Permit being cancelled.
Most of all, build a culture where she feels safe telling you she is unwell early. A helper who is not afraid of losing pay or being blamed will mention a fever on day one, not day four.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my maid entitled to paid sick leave in Singapore?
Helpers are not covered by the Employment Act, so its statutory sick leave days do not automatically apply, and sick leave terms come from the employment contract. However, you must pay her declared salary in full and on time, MOM warns against unauthorised deductions, and you must pay her medical costs, so most employers simply agree in writing that certified sick days are paid.
Do I have to pay for my helper’s clinic visits?
Yes. MOM requires employers to bear their helper’s medical expenses in Singapore, whether or not the illness or injury is work-related. Her compulsory medical insurance covers inpatient care and day surgery, so routine clinic visits and medicines are normally paid by you directly, and you should keep receipts for your records.
What happens if my helper needs to be hospitalised?
Her medical insurance covers inpatient care with an annual limit of at least $60,000, with a 75% insurer and 25% employer co-payment above $15,000, and insurers pay hospitals directly once a claim is admissible. You can also apply for a levy waiver for hospitalisation leave of up to 60 calendar days a year, using the MC issued by a Singapore-registered doctor.
Am I responsible if she falls sick while on home leave?
MOM has said treatment overseas during rest days or home leave is outside the scope of the employer’s liability, so employers are not expected to cover it. MOM suggests encouraging helpers to buy travel insurance before personal trips abroad.
Conclusion
Maid sick leave in Singapore is less about a fixed number of days and more about responsibilities that are already clear: you pay her medical costs, you keep paying her declared salary without unauthorised deductions, and you hold the medical and personal accident insurance MOM requires. Agree sick days in the contract, know when to call 995, keep the paperwork for insurance and levy waivers, and have a simple backup plan for the house.
How you respond when your helper is unwell shapes trust more than almost anything else. Rules change, so check the MOM website before relying on any figure.
If you are planning to hire and want guidance on setting up the employment properly from day one, we are happy to help. You can get in touch with the Femme5 team to discuss your family’s needs, read more about how we work with employers, or explore what a good placement looks like.
The Femme5 Team
Maid placement specialists, Femme5 Maid Agency
Our consultants work with Singaporean and expatriate families on helper matching, contracts and MOM compliance, and we verify the regulatory guidance in our articles directly against the Ministry of Manpower’s published requirements.
