Debated in Parliament on 4 Feb 2026.
Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what dedicated mental health support services beyond helplines are currently available for migrant domestic workers; (b) how many migrant domestic workers have utilised these services in each of the past five years; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider conducting a needs assessment directly with migrant domestic workers to understand their mental health needs and barriers to accessing support.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) takes a multi-pronged approach towards mental health support for Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs), starting with upstream touchpoints to pre-emptively identify and address mental health and well-being concerns. All first-time MDWs attend the settling-in programme on arrival, which provides guidance on stress management and the avenues to seek help. MDWs are also required to undergo the six-monthly medical examination, which serves as another channel for doctors to detect any signs of distress.
Employment agencies conduct welfare checks within three months of MDW's placement while the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), conducts two interviews on behalf of MOM with all first-time MDWs in the first year of their employment. Besides these interviews, CDE also conducts recreational activities for MDWs on their rest days and runs a 24/7 helpline for MDWs in distress.
Beyond MOM's MDW helpline, MDWs that require mental health support can contact NGOs, such as CDE and Brahm Centre, which also operate helplines and provide counselling services. Serious cases will be escalated for medical attention and treatment. Additionally, MOM partners the Alliance of Domestic Employees to scale and train "Care Sisters", who serve as a peer support network, in psychological first aid, suicide prevention and mental well-being support to fellow domestic workers. The Care Sisters network comprises MDWs of various nationalities, ensuring that peer support is delivered in their native language and in a manner suited to their cultural backgrounds.
MOM does not collect data on MDWs' utilisation of mental health support services in Singapore. Nonetheless, a MOM-Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Institute of Mental Health study in 2024 showed that most MDWs were able to seek help when faced with emotional issues.
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