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Published on 28 Nov 2023 by Sally C.
When managing an FDW in Singapore, it's important to consider FDW home leave compensation as part of their employment terms. This compensation is typically provided when a foreign domestic worker (FDW) returns to their home country for a break or to visit family. Employers are required to cover the cost of return airfare and may also provide additional allowances, depending on the terms of the employment contract. Ensuring clarity on FDW home leave compensation helps in maintaining a positive working relationship and complying with employment regulations in Singapore.
Domestic helpers in Singapore are legally entitled to 10 days of annual leave under Singapore's Employment Act and most of the time they make want to use this to see their families back home. There are some who even try to visit other countries, like Hong Kong. Planning for the HK holiday 2024 gives helpers a chance to explore the vibrant city. Helpers usually check out what’s available for HK holiday today to enjoy the city’s attractions and cultural events right away.
If you are an employer, especially if it is your first time, there are several key aspects about your helper's overseas leave that you should familiarise yourself with. In this guide, you will learn what you need to prepare and communicate with your helper before she leaves.
About FDW Home Leave
FDW home leave is an important benefit that allows foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to return to their home country for a period of rest and rejuvenation. To facilitate this, employers must submit a home leave application to ensure that the leave is properly documented and approved. Home leave for domestic helpers not only supports their well-being but also helps maintain a positive working relationship. During this period, FDWs can visit their families and attend to personal matters, which can enhance their job satisfaction and overall performance. Additionally, if FDWs require temporary accommodation upon their return or during their leave, options such as a home shelter in Singapore can provide a supportive environment.
Travel Expenses
Although there are no specific regulations overseeing the travel expenses associated with a domestic helper's home leave, MOM encourages open discussions and negotiations between domestic helpers and employers to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement.
It is advisable that travel expenses for home leave be addressed during the initial negotiation of terms and conditions at the commencement of the employment relationship. If your employment contract did not initially include provisions for travel expenses, it is recommended to promptly engage in a mutual discussion with your domestic helper to determine the responsible party for bearing these costs.
What You Need To Do
1. Prior to your domestic helper's scheduled home leave, it is important to check with her embassy on her home country/region’s immigration requirements and remind her to prepare and bring the following documents upon her return to Singapore.
- her valid passport
- her Work Permit card and passport so that she can re-enter Singapore
- a copy of her travel ticket or departure itinerary
- her home country’s immigration requirements
Reminder: Should your helper be absent for an extended duration, you have the option to terminate her Work Permit. In such a case, it will be necessary to submit a new Work Permit application should you decide to re-employ her.
2. Postpone your helper’s Medical Examination if your helper’s home leave clashes with her mandatory six-monthly medical examination (6ME). To do so, you will need to log into Singpass and provide the following:
- a copy of your helper’s flight/ferry itinerary back to Singapore
- her date of return to Singapore
You will be informed of the outcome after 2 weeks.
3. Apply for a levy waiver when your helper returns.
You will continue to be charged levy while your helper is on overseas leave, but you will be able to qualify for levy waiver when your helper's overseas leave is at least 7 consecutive days and the waiver period is capped at a maximum of 60 calendar days per calendar year. Additional documents are unnecessary for applying for the levy waiver unless explicitly requested. The application for the levy waiver can be submitted only after the levy has been imposed, and it must be completed within a year from the issuance of the levy bill.
4. If your helper does not return, you need to cancel her work permit to stop the levy.
Contact the Ministry of Manpower and provide a copy of your helper's travel ticket or departure itinerary as proof. Upon confirming that your helper has departed and has not re-entered Singapore, MOM will initiate the process to release the security bond. In the event that she re-enters Singapore prior to the discharge of the security bond, it is imperative to promptly send her back home to prevent potential forfeiture of the security bond.
Additionally, you have the option to apply for a levy waiver for the entire period of her absence, provided that the application is submitted within one year of the levy bill. To avoid incurring a non-waivable levy, you may consider promptly canceling your helper's Work Permit if she does not return after one year.
Adjusting to Life Without Your Helper
For individuals with children or other dependents at home, the absence of a domestic helper, even if only temporary, can create a significant source of stress. This is particularly true for those accustomed to having assistance with household tasks and who may not have engaged in such chores for an extended period. Below are some strategies to help you adapt to the temporary shift in household arrangements.
1. Communicate with your family members.
Given that your family members may be accustomed to having an extra set of hands to assist with household tasks, the temporary absence of your domestic helper can cause disruptions to your family's daily routine. Initiating a conversation with your family members and clearly outlining what they can anticipate during this period can serve as a beneficial initial step.
2. Come up with a schedule for house chores.
To prevent disorder and minimize the disturbance to your household, it is prudent to proactively plan and establish a schedule for household chores for everyone before your domestic helper takes her overseas leave. This approach will assist in distributing household tasks evenly, ensuring that the workload is manageable for all, and preventing frustration with chores at the end of a long day.
3. Outsource your chores.
If you're open to spending a bit, you may explore the option of delegating your household chores on a temporary basis until your domestic helper comes back from her overseas home leave. This could involve choosing daily meal services or making weekly visits to a laundromat.
4. Make alternative care arrangements for seniors and your children.
If you have young children requiring supervision or elderly parents and grandparents who depend on your helper for meals and assistance around the house, it is crucial to plan alternative arrangements in advance. Reach out to willing relatives to inquire if they can assist during your domestic helper's overseas home leave. Alternatively, you may explore professional caregiving or babysitting services for added peace of mind.
Navigating the process of your helper's overseas leave requires a clear understanding of various aspects to ensure compliance with regulations and maintain a positive working relationship.
In case your helper decides that she does not wish to return to your employment, we at Ministry of Helpers are more than happy to find another helper in Singapore that would match your needs and requirements. We pride ourselves in creating relationships that would be beneficial to both employers and helpers in Singapore. Contact us here.
When managing an FDW in Singapore, it's important to consider FDW home leave compensation as part of their employment terms. This compensation is typically provided when a foreign domestic worker (FDW) returns to their home country for a break or to visit family. Employers are required to cover the cost of return airfare and may also provide additional allowances, depending on the terms of the employment contract. Ensuring clarity on FDW home leave compensation helps in maintaining a positive working relationship and complying with employment regulations in Singapore.
Domestic helpers in Singapore are legally entitled to 10 days of annual leave under Singapore's Employment Act and most of the time they make want to use this to see their families back home. There are some who even try to visit other countries, like Hong Kong. Planning for the HK holiday 2024 gives helpers a chance to explore the vibrant city. Helpers usually check out what’s available for HK holiday today to enjoy the city’s attractions and cultural events right away.
If you are an employer, especially if it is your first time, there are several key aspects about your helper's overseas leave that you should familiarise yourself with. In this guide, you will learn what you need to prepare and communicate with your helper before she leaves.
About FDW Home Leave
FDW home leave is an important benefit that allows foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to return to their home country for a period of rest and rejuvenation. To facilitate this, employers must submit a home leave application to ensure that the leave is properly documented and approved. Home leave for domestic helpers not only supports their well-being but also helps maintain a positive working relationship. During this period, FDWs can visit their families and attend to personal matters, which can enhance their job satisfaction and overall performance. Additionally, if FDWs require temporary accommodation upon their return or during their leave, options such as a home shelter in Singapore can provide a supportive environment.
Travel Expenses
Although there are no specific regulations overseeing the travel expenses associated with a domestic helper's home leave, MOM encourages open discussions and negotiations between domestic helpers and employers to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement.
It is advisable that travel expenses for home leave be addressed during the initial negotiation of terms and conditions at the commencement of the employment relationship. If your employment contract did not initially include provisions for travel expenses, it is recommended to promptly engage in a mutual discussion with your domestic helper to determine the responsible party for bearing these costs.
What You Need To Do
1. Prior to your domestic helper's scheduled home leave, it is important to check with her embassy on her home country/region’s immigration requirements and remind her to prepare and bring the following documents upon her return to Singapore.
- her valid passport
- her Work Permit card and passport so that she can re-enter Singapore
- a copy of her travel ticket or departure itinerary
- her home country’s immigration requirements
Reminder: Should your helper be absent for an extended duration, you have the option to terminate her Work Permit. In such a case, it will be necessary to submit a new Work Permit application should you decide to re-employ her.
2. Postpone your helper’s Medical Examination if your helper’s home leave clashes with her mandatory six-monthly medical examination (6ME). To do so, you will need to log into Singpass and provide the following:
- a copy of your helper’s flight/ferry itinerary back to Singapore
- her date of return to Singapore
You will be informed of the outcome after 2 weeks.
3. Apply for a levy waiver when your helper returns.
You will continue to be charged levy while your helper is on overseas leave, but you will be able to qualify for levy waiver when your helper's overseas leave is at least 7 consecutive days and the waiver period is capped at a maximum of 60 calendar days per calendar year. Additional documents are unnecessary for applying for the levy waiver unless explicitly requested. The application for the levy waiver can be submitted only after the levy has been imposed, and it must be completed within a year from the issuance of the levy bill.
4. If your helper does not return, you need to cancel her work permit to stop the levy.
Contact the Ministry of Manpower and provide a copy of your helper's travel ticket or departure itinerary as proof. Upon confirming that your helper has departed and has not re-entered Singapore, MOM will initiate the process to release the security bond. In the event that she re-enters Singapore prior to the discharge of the security bond, it is imperative to promptly send her back home to prevent potential forfeiture of the security bond.
Additionally, you have the option to apply for a levy waiver for the entire period of her absence, provided that the application is submitted within one year of the levy bill. To avoid incurring a non-waivable levy, you may consider promptly canceling your helper's Work Permit if she does not return after one year.
Adjusting to Life Without Your Helper
For individuals with children or other dependents at home, the absence of a domestic helper, even if only temporary, can create a significant source of stress. This is particularly true for those accustomed to having assistance with household tasks and who may not have engaged in such chores for an extended period. Below are some strategies to help you adapt to the temporary shift in household arrangements.
1. Communicate with your family members.
Given that your family members may be accustomed to having an extra set of hands to assist with household tasks, the temporary absence of your domestic helper can cause disruptions to your family's daily routine. Initiating a conversation with your family members and clearly outlining what they can anticipate during this period can serve as a beneficial initial step.
2. Come up with a schedule for house chores.
To prevent disorder and minimize the disturbance to your household, it is prudent to proactively plan and establish a schedule for household chores for everyone before your domestic helper takes her overseas leave. This approach will assist in distributing household tasks evenly, ensuring that the workload is manageable for all, and preventing frustration with chores at the end of a long day.
3. Outsource your chores.
If you're open to spending a bit, you may explore the option of delegating your household chores on a temporary basis until your domestic helper comes back from her overseas home leave. This could involve choosing daily meal services or making weekly visits to a laundromat.
4. Make alternative care arrangements for seniors and your children.
If you have young children requiring supervision or elderly parents and grandparents who depend on your helper for meals and assistance around the house, it is crucial to plan alternative arrangements in advance. Reach out to willing relatives to inquire if they can assist during your domestic helper's overseas home leave. Alternatively, you may explore professional caregiving or babysitting services for added peace of mind.
Navigating the process of your helper's overseas leave requires a clear understanding of various aspects to ensure compliance with regulations and maintain a positive working relationship.
In case your helper decides that she does not wish to return to your employment, we at Ministry of Helpers are more than happy to find another helper in Singapore that would match your needs and requirements. We pride ourselves in creating relationships that would be beneficial to both employers and helpers in Singapore. Contact us here.