Filipino maids in Singapore

Many Filipino maids, or Pinay maids, are comfortable with instructions in English, which can make day-to-day communication about your children and your household easier. That said, English ability still varies from one candidate to the next, so it is worth checking at interview. On this page we set out what hiring a Filipino helper involves in Singapore: the MOM steps, the costs you can plan for, the rules that apply once she starts and how to give her a good first few weeks.

Many Filipino helpers are Catholic, and some may ask for Sunday as their rest day so they can attend church. Every helper is entitled to a weekly rest day, and since 1 Jan 2023 at least one rest day a month must be taken rather than compensated. Salary is agreed with each candidate, and what she expects will usually reflect her experience and the duties involved rather than her nationality alone.

DISCLAIMER: Ultimately, maids are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses. Other factors like work experience, age, education and training should also be considered when hiring a maid.

Childcare and elderly care experience

Many Filipino helpers have worked as nannies or caregivers before, either in Singapore or elsewhere, so they are often considered by families with babies, young children or elderly parents. Experience still varies a lot from one candidate to the next. When you interview, ask about the ages of the children or seniors she has cared for, what a typical day looked like and how long she stayed with each employer. Speaking with her directly also lets you judge communication and personality fit for your household.

If your main need is looking after a parent or grandparent, see our page on helpers with elderly caregiving experience. For a new baby, our newborn and confinement care page explains that option.

Who a Filipino helper suits

Families most often ask us about Filipino candidates when English is the main language at home. That includes expatriate households, couples who both work and leave written routines, and parents who want a helper to read with the children or talk to teachers and doctors on the family’s behalf.

Clear English is useful, but it is not the only thing that matters. A helper who has run a busy household before, or who has cooked for a family with dietary needs similar to yours, may be a better fit than one who simply speaks well at interview. We suggest you rank your priorities before you look at profiles: childcare, elderly care, cooking, cleaning standards or a mix. Our guide on why many families choose a Filipino helper goes into this in more depth.

Hiring a Filipino maid in Singapore: the MOM steps

Whatever her nationality, every new helper goes through the same Ministry of Manpower process. Knowing the order of steps helps you plan your dates.

1. Check you are eligible. MOM requires employers to be 21 or older, not an undischarged bankrupt and able to fulfil an employer’s responsibilities. Household income is assessed, but MOM does not publish a fixed figure. See the employer requirements on mom.gov.sg.
2. Attend the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) if you are a first-time employer. It must be completed at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application.
3. Check that she meets MOM’s criteria. She must be aged 23 to below 50 when the application is made and have at least 8 years of formal education with a recognised certificate. The Philippines is one of MOM’s approved source countries. Details are on the MOM helper eligibility page.
4. Apply for the Work Permit. Applications through FDW eService usually take about 1 week.
5. Buy the security bond and insurance. A $5,000 security bond, medical insurance and personal accident insurance must be in place, and the bond must be in effect when she arrives.
6. Arrival, Settling-in Programme and medical check. A first-time helper attends the 1-day Settling-in Programme within 7 days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays, and can only start work after it. She also needs a medical examination by a Singapore-registered doctor within 2 weeks of arrival.
7. Work Permit issued. Once the medical is cleared, the permit is issued and she can settle into your home.

The Philippine government also has its own requirements for its citizens who work overseas, and these can change. We do not set them out here because we cannot confirm the current details on an official page, so please ask our team what applies at the time you hire. For a fuller walkthrough of the paperwork, read our step-by-step Work Permit guide.

What it costs and what drives the cost

Government charges are the same for every nationality. Based on MOM’s published figures, plan for:

• Work Permit fees: $35 to apply and $35 on issuance.
• Monthly levy: $300 for your first helper, $450 for each additional helper, or $60 at the concessionary rate if your household qualifies, for example with a Singapore citizen child below 16 or an elderly person aged 67 or above.
• Insurance: medical insurance with an annual limit of at least $60,000, and personal accident insurance of at least $60,000. You cannot pass the cost of medical insurance on to her.
• Security bond: $5,000, usually arranged as a banker’s or insurer’s guarantee.
• Courses: the EOP costs $29 to $36 online or $35 to $76 in a classroom, and the Settling-in Programme costs $76.40 to $92.65.
• Medical examinations: the medical check after she arrives, then a six-monthly medical examination. The employer pays for the six-monthly examination and any medical costs arising from it.

The biggest variable is salary. MOM sets no minimum salary for helpers, and you must pay the salary you declare in the Work Permit application. Salary expectations are usually shaped by her experience and the duties involved. Our 2026 maid salary guide and full cost breakdown help you budget.

MOM rules to know once she starts

Rest days

She is entitled to 1 rest day a week, agreed between you. If she agrees to work on a rest day, pay at least 1 day’s salary, which is her monthly salary divided by 26. At least 1 rest day a month cannot be bought out. If she attends Sunday Mass, agreeing on Sundays as her rest day from the start avoids misunderstandings later. MOM’s rest day guidance has the full rules.

Salary, passport and accommodation

Salary must be paid no later than 7 days after the end of each salary period. You should not keep her passport, as withholding someone else’s passport is an offence; MOM recommends a secure locker she can access herself. Her sleeping area must give her adequate space and privacy, and she must not share a room with a male adult or teenager.

Window safety

She must not clean the outside of any window unless the window has a grille that is locked throughout and an adult supervises. Breaking this rule can lead to a fine of up to $10,000, jail and debarment.

Preparing your home and her first weeks

A little preparation makes the first month smoother for everyone. Before she arrives:

• Prepare her bed, mattress, pillow, blanket and toiletries.
• Write down the daily routine, children’s schedules, allergies and emergency contacts.
• Show her where any home cameras are, as MOM requires.
• Decide her rest day and how you will pay her salary.

In the first weeks, expect her to learn your routines rather than run the house straight away. Show her how you like things done, check in briefly each evening and give feedback early and kindly. Our article on building trust in the first 30 days has practical ideas.

New helper or transfer helper?

Not every Filipino helper you meet will be arriving from overseas. A transfer helper is already working in Singapore and moves directly from her current employer, which needs that employer’s consent. Transfers suit families who want someone with local experience and an earlier start. A new helper from overseas suits families who prefer to train someone in their own routines from day one. You can read more on our transfer maid page.

How Femme5 supports your hire

Every helper you hire through us goes through the same MOM-compliant steps, including the work permit application, medical examination, security bond and insurance. We can also pre-train helpers before placement, arrange helper transport for airport pickups, medicals and embassy runs, and share maid profiles on request so you can compare candidates before you interview. If a placement ends within the first 6 months, MOM rules require agencies to refund at least 50% of the service fee, subject to the conditions on the MOM refund page. Contact us to see suitable profiles.