Debated in Parliament on 4 Oct 2021.
Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Manpower whether there are plans to manage or regulate maid agency fees and other related fees for foreign domestic helpers given that some maid agencies seem to be charging potential employers high fees.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been monitoring the fees charged by employment agencies (EAs). Overall, while there remains a good range of EA service fees, we have observed a general increase in the service fees that employers pay for hiring migrant domestic workers (MDWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This could be because additional costs are incurred by EAs to enable the MDW to satisfy various COVID-19 requirements in both the source country and Singapore. In addition, their business volume has fallen due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
MOM does not regulate the service fees charged by the EAs. With more than 900 active EAs that place MDWs in Singapore, there is sufficient competition in the market. Employers may wish to compare the prices charged by different EAs and consider the packages and levels of service offered by the EAs. All EAs are required to provide a clear and accurate breakdown of the fees paid for by the employer. Action will be taken against EAs who misrepresent the costs of any regulatory requirements imposed such as local SHN and COVID-19 tests.
PAPERCUTS