Proposal for Financial Support for Families to Cover Increased Costs of Bringing in Migrant Domestic Workers in Event of Unsuccessful Employment Relationship

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider having some form of financial support for families to cover the increased costs of bringing in migrant domestic workers in the event of an unsuccessful employment relationship.

MOM recognises that employers bear higher upfront costs of bringing in a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) during the COVID-19 pandemic due to border control and safety measures. To help alleviate the financial burden on employers, MOM has introduced in September 2021, the initiative to allow employers to share the entry Stay-Home Notice (SHN) and related COVID-19 tests costs with subsequent employers if the change of employer takes place prematurely within the first year of employment.

With the easing of the border control measures, employers are also able to arrange for their MDWs to serve their SHN at self-sourced accommodation or their own residence. About 40% of employers have arranged for their MDWs to serve SHN at their or the employment agent’s residence. This would further lower the costs of hiring an MDW from overseas.

Apart from helping employers manage the hiring costs, MOM has also implemented upstream measures to improve the prospect of successful employment relationships. For example, employers are able to access more information relating to the employment history of MDWs, such as the types and sizes of households the MDW has worked for previously, and the reasons the MDW left their past employers. This allows prospective employers to better assess the suitability of the MDW during the hiring process.