Indonesian maids in Singapore

Need an extra pair of hands to tidy up the house? An Indonesian maid may be a good fit, as many of the candidates we meet have hands-on experience with daily household chores and are willing to learn how your home runs. As with any helper, attitude and experience vary from person to person, so the interview matters. Below we explain who an Indonesian helper often suits, the MOM steps to hire one, the costs to budget for and how to help her settle in.

Indonesian helpers speak Bahasa Indonesia, which is closely related to the Malay spoken in Singapore. Many also have a basic command of English, and some pick up simple Mandarin or dialects over time. As such, they are often considered by families with elderly members who speak Malay, and by Malay-speaking families who may share some cultural or religious practices with them.

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.

Cooking and caregiving

Beyond daily chores, many Indonesian helpers are comfortable in the kitchen, and some are already familiar with Malay and Indonesian-style home cooking, which can make settling into a Singapore household easier. Many also have experience caring for children and elderly family members. Skills differ from person to person, so ask candidates about the dishes they usually cook, any experience with dietary needs, and the ages of the people they have cared for before.

If you are hiring mainly to look after a parent, our page on helpers with elderly caregiving experience explains what to look for.

Who an Indonesian helper suits

A shared language can make a real difference at home. Grandparents who are most comfortable in Malay, or families who speak Malay with their children, often find day-to-day instructions and conversation easier. Muslim families may also value a helper who shares their food practices and prayer routines, although you should still talk through your household’s expectations and her own practices rather than assume them.

English-speaking households hire Indonesian helpers too. In that case, keep instructions simple at first, write down key routines and be patient while her English and her knowledge of your home grow. It is also worth agreeing early on what she is comfortable handling, for example preparing food she does not eat herself, so there are no surprises later. Our guide on communicating with a helper from a different culture has practical tips.

Hiring an Indonesian maid in Singapore: the MOM steps

The Ministry of Manpower process is the same for every nationality. Here is the order it usually runs in.

1. Confirm your eligibility. You must be 21 or older, not an undischarged bankrupt and able to fulfil an employer’s responsibilities. MOM assesses household income but does not publish a fixed amount. See the employer requirements on mom.gov.sg.
2. Complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) if this is your first helper. Do it at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application.
3. Check her eligibility. She must be aged 23 to below 50 at the time of application and have at least 8 years of formal education with a recognised certificate. Indonesia is on MOM’s list of approved source countries, as shown on the MOM helper eligibility page.
4. Submit the Work Permit application. Online applications through FDW eService usually take about 1 week.
5. Arrange the security bond and insurance. You need a $5,000 security bond, medical insurance and personal accident insurance, and the bond must be in effect before she arrives.
6. Arrival, Settling-in Programme and medical. A first-time helper attends the 1-day Settling-in Programme within 7 days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays, and starts work only after it. A Singapore-registered doctor must examine her within 2 weeks of arrival.
7. Permit issued. After she passes the medical, the Work Permit is issued.

Indonesia also has its own rules for citizens taking up work overseas. They change from time to time and we could not confirm the current details on an official page, so we do not list them here; ask our team what applies when you hire. Our Work Permit application guide covers the Singapore side in more detail.

Costs to budget for

Government charges do not depend on nationality. Using MOM’s published rates:

• Work Permit: $35 application fee and $35 issuance fee.
• Levy: $300 a month for the first helper, $450 for each additional helper, or $60 at the concessionary rate when your household qualifies, such as 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, plus personal accident insurance of at least $60,000. You cannot pass the cost of medical insurance on to her.
• Security bond: $5,000, normally as a banker’s or insurer’s guarantee.
• Courses: the EOP is $29 to $36 online or $35 to $76 in class, and the Settling-in Programme is $76.40 to $92.65.
• Medicals: the examination after she arrives, then a six-monthly medical examination. The employer pays for the six-monthly examination and any medical costs arising from it.

Salary is the main cost you agree with her. MOM sets no minimum salary for helpers, but you must pay what you declare in the Work Permit application. Experience and the scope of duties usually shape what a candidate expects. See our full cost breakdown for 2026 for a wider view.

Rules that apply once she starts

Rest days and religious practice

Every helper is entitled to 1 rest day a week, and since 1 Jan 2023 at least 1 rest day a month must be taken rather than compensated. If she agrees to work on another rest day, pay at least 1 day’s salary, which is her monthly salary divided by 26. If she fasts during Ramadan or prays at set times, agree in advance how the day’s routine will work. MOM’s rest day rules give the details.

Salary, passport and living space

Pay her salary no later than 7 days after each salary period ends. Do not keep her passport, as withholding someone else’s passport is an offence; MOM recommends a secure locker she can access. Give her a sleeping area with adequate space and privacy, and never place her in the same room as a male adult or teenager.

Window cleaning

She may only clean the outside of a window if it has a grille that stays locked throughout and an adult supervises. Penalties include a fine of up to $10,000, jail and debarment.

Getting ready for her arrival

• Set up her bed, pillow, blanket and toiletries before she arrives.
• Write a simple daily schedule, in English and, if you can, in Malay.
• Note any food restrictions in your home and hers, and agree how meals will work.
• Tell her where any home cameras are, as MOM requires.

Expect the first few weeks to be about learning. Show her how each task is done in your home, keep feedback calm and specific, and check how she is feeling, as homesickness is common early on. Our guide on preparing your home for a new helper has a fuller checklist.

New or transfer: which route suits you

You can hire a helper who is coming from Indonesia for the first time, or a transfer helper who already works in Singapore. A transfer needs her current employer’s consent and often allows an earlier start with someone who knows local routines. A new arrival may need more time to settle but learns your household’s way of doing things from the beginning.

How Femme5 helps

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 pre-train helpers before placement, provide helper transport for airport pickups, medicals and embassy runs, and share maid profiles on request. If a placement ends within the first 6 months, agencies must refund at least 50% of the service fee, subject to the conditions on the MOM refund page. You can also compare nationalities on our maids page.

Speak with us to shortlist Indonesian helpers who match your household’s needs.