MOH Help

1. Record keeping: never lose another document in your hiring process.

2. Profile building: makes you a more attractive and trusted employer.

3. Manage your homes better with our household scheduler and training videos.

4. Discounts on partner services.

Clarity, which means:

1. You know what you want

2. The helper knows what she wants

3. A clear and signed contract of what has been agreed (Free with premium subscription!)

4. A clearly defined process

5. Regular evaluations (We arrange free support when requested.)

1. You sign up, provide your preferences and browse through the profiles.

2. Invite candidates for chats or online video interviews.

3. Make an online offer and generate your contract.

4. Choose to do the paperwork and onboarding yourself or let our Concierge Services do it for you.

5. Use your dashboard for status updates and keep an electronic record of everything in our document vault.

6. Use our integrated scheduler to organise and optimise your home management.

7. Discuss anything home or MDW-related in our Forum.

For the video calls, you would need to give permission for our website to access the microphone and camera of your chosen device (mobile phone/ laptop).

To avoid problems, it is always good to test your camera and microphone ahead of time. This is especially important if you are logging in from a new computer or mobile phone.

The video call will take place in your browser. It is compatible with Google Chrome, Mac Safari and Microsoft Explorer. Some browsers, like Brave, has strict security settings that can prevent video calls from being allowed by your system or your (corporate) network manager. You need to "disable shields" in Brave to conduct our video calls. Don't forget to enable shields again after you have finished the call.

If you experience difficulties that cannot be resolved with the above information, please contact us and our Client Services Team will gladly assist you.

To start the call:  

1. Make sure you are logged in https://ministryofhelpers.com.

2. Click on “Chat” on the upper right had corner of your screen.

3. Click on the video icon then click on “Join”.

During the Call 

1. Follow proper video call etiquette (we have listed some tips below).

2. Be courteous and patient please, the video call proficiency of your helper may be limited.

3. Ask the right questions. We have prepared a sample list of 150 questions for you to choose from that you can find here. Study the questions beforehand and decide which ones you want to ask. 

After the call: 

1. Be polite and send a chat message to say thank you for the call.

2. When you are ready to make an offer to the helper, go to your dashboard and from your “shortlisted” tab choose the profile. Click on “Make an offer” to get the process started.

To get the most out of your call, here are some tips!

1. Do test your camera and microphone ahead of time. 

This is especially important if you’re logging in from a new computer or mobile phone. When you start using our video conferencing software, your equipment may throw you a barrage of pop-ups asking you to authorise this, enable that, and so on. If you haven’t done this in advance, your counterpart will be waiting on you to get set up. 

2. Do choose a location with good lighting. 

Lighting is essential for video calls, so be mindful of the way light hits your space. Ideally, you’ll want to be near natural light but without harsh light shining directly on you. If this isn’t possible, consider assigning another space in your home (like the dining room table or a countertop) to be your video call area. 

3. Do introduce yourself before you start talking. 

Unless you’re incredibly familiar with the person on the call, introduce yourself at the beginning of the call. This helps with putting faces to names and facilitating remote bonding. 

4. Do mute yourself or minimise your background noise. 

It’s a good habit to mute yourself whenever you’re not speaking so that other participant doesn’t have to hear any background noise in your space. Background noise might include the sound of you typing, your child yelling your name from the next room, a siren blaring down the street, or any number of other distractions. 

5. Do warn anyone around you that you’re going to be on a call. 

Speaking of eliminating background noise, if you work in the same space as other people, you should let them know that you’re about to be on a video call. We’ve all heard horror stories of a significant other walking behind the camera in their underwear or a child running into the room unprompted. While we’re at it, this may be a good time to close any pets out of the room where you’re having a video call.

6. Don’t be late. 

This one should go without saying, but don’t be late! Some people think of video calls as being less official than in-office correspondence, but there’s no reason for that distinction.  You’re taking up precious time, so treat a video call as seriously as you would an in-person meeting and show up on time. 

7. Don’t interrupt when someone else is talking. 

This should go without saying as it’s just as important in the real world as it is on video calls, but don’t interrupt other people while they’re talking. Beyond the usual disrespect and confusion it can trigger, on a video call it can create static or cause the audio to become otherwise distorted. 

8. Don’t forget to turn off when you’re done. 

To maintain your privacy after the call ends, make sure you close out of the call window. One way to troubleshoot this on a Mac (and some PCs) is to check whether your webcam camera’s light is still on. If the indicator light is still glowing, your camera is still on and you should double check that you left the call correctly.  

To start the call:  

1. Make sure you are logged in https://ministryofhelpers.com.

2. Click on “Chat” on the upper right had corner of your screen.

3. Click on the video icon then click on “Join”.

During the Call 

1. Follow proper video call etiquette (we have listed some tips below).

2. Be courteous and patient please, the video call proficiency of your helper may be limited.

3. Ask the right questions. We have prepared a sample list of 150 questions for you to choose from that you can find here. Study the questions beforehand and decide which ones you want to ask. 

After the call: 

1. Be polite and send a chat message to say thank you for the call.

2. When you are ready to make an offer to the helper, go to your dashboard and from your “shortlisted” tab choose the profile. Click on “Make an offer” to get the process started.

To get the most out of your call, here are some tips!

1. Do test your camera and microphone ahead of time. 

This is especially important if you’re logging in from a new computer or mobile phone. When you start using our video conferencing software, your equipment may throw you a barrage of pop-ups asking you to authorise this, enable that, and so on. If you haven’t done this in advance, your counterpart will be waiting on you to get set up. 

2. Do choose a location with good lighting. 

Lighting is essential for video calls, so be mindful of the way light hits your space. Ideally, you’ll want to be near natural light but without harsh light shining directly on you. If this isn’t possible, consider assigning another space in your home (like the dining room table or a countertop) to be your video call area. 

3. Do introduce yourself before you start talking. 

Unless you’re incredibly familiar with the person on the call, introduce yourself at the beginning of the call. This helps with putting faces to names and facilitating remote bonding. 

4. Do mute yourself or minimise your background noise. 

It’s a good habit to mute yourself whenever you’re not speaking so that other participant doesn’t have to hear any background noise in your space. Background noise might include the sound of you typing, your child yelling your name from the next room, a siren blaring down the street, or any number of other distractions. 

5. Do warn anyone around you that you’re going to be on a call. 

Speaking of eliminating background noise, if you work in the same space as other people, you should let them know that you’re about to be on a video call. We’ve all heard horror stories of a significant other walking behind the camera in their underwear or a child running into the room unprompted. While we’re at it, this may be a good time to close any pets out of the room where you’re having a video call.

6. Don’t be late. 

This one should go without saying, but don’t be late! Some people think of video calls as being less official than in-office correspondence, but there’s no reason for that distinction.  You’re taking up precious time, so treat a video call as seriously as you would an in-person meeting and show up on time. 

7. Don’t interrupt when someone else is talking. 

This should go without saying as it’s just as important in the real world as it is on video calls, but don’t interrupt other people while they’re talking. Beyond the usual disrespect and confusion it can trigger, on a video call it can create static or cause the audio to become otherwise distorted. 

8. Don’t forget to turn off when you’re done. 

To maintain your privacy after the call ends, make sure you close out of the call window. One way to troubleshoot this on a Mac (and some PCs) is to check whether your webcam camera’s light is still on. If the indicator light is still glowing, your camera is still on and you should double check that you left the call correctly.  

150+ Interview Questions for a Domestic Helper, Maid or Nanny

Some warming up and personal/ family background

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
2. Tell me about your family. What financial responsibilities do you have for them? Are there pressing debt concerns?
3. How many siblings do you have? What number are you in your siblings.
4. Are you married? If yes, what does your husband do?
5. How many kids do you have? Did you raise your own kids?
6. Does your religion impact your choice of employer? Cooking, eating/diet, pet care

Educational background

1. What languages do you know? Speak/write. Proficiency level.
2. What are your future plans?
3. Can you use a computer?
4. Do you drink or smoke?
5. Do you have any medical history/police/criminal history?
6. How long have you been in Singapore?
7. What are some of the things you like about Singapore?
8. Why do you want to (need to) work as a domestic helper?
9. Was there a previous employment where you did not get enough rest? Find out more about the worker’s orientation towards personal time and rest.
10. What do you do your day off? Are you active with religious groups or local charities? Are you taking classes?
11. How are you adjusting to living in Singapore while away from your family?

Transfer helper questions

1. Has your employer signed the “Letter of Consent” (aka “Release Paper”) – if you are interviewing a transfer worker, having this document signed is critical.
2. How long have you been interviewing?
3. Why are you leaving your current job?
4. Why aren’t you renewing your contract?
5. Explain your past work history.
6. Have you worked in any other countries besides Singapore?
7. What areas/cities/regions have you worked in?
8. Are you familiar with the bus and train routes? If not, do you know how to look up the transportation routes on the internet?
9. What do you do with the money you earn?
10. Do you have a savings account?
11. Out of all the things you do, what is your favourite job?
12. What are you best at doing?
13. What is your current salary? What is your expected salary?
14. What do you like about your current job? What do you dislike about your current job?
15. What are you expectations from your new job?
16. Do you have any references from your previous employers? Can I contact your previous employer?
17. Is your current Ma’am strict? What about your Sir?

Daily routine & schedule questions

1. What is your daily schedule like at your current job?
2. What was your schedule like at your previous jobs?
3. What time do you wake up in the morning? What time do you sleep at night.
4. Do both the ma’am and sir work?
5. How many meals do you cook each day?
6. How often do you clean the bathrooms? Do laundry? Iron? Change bed sheets?
7. Do you have to wash the cars? How often? What is the brand of the car?
8. Have you done any gardening in the past? How big was the garden? What types of plants? How often did you tend the plants? What tasks did you perform?

Cleaning/ housekeeping questions

1. How big is the current house you work in? How many rooms and bathrooms does it have?
2. Do you have your own room and bathroom?
3. What are some of the things you do in the house to keep it clean?
4. What are some of the things you do in the kitchen to keep it clean?
5. Are you good at organizing?
6. Do you know how to use a vacuum cleaner?
7. Are you afraid of any insects, bugs, lizards, etc.
8. Are you able to follow a schedule? Tell me some things on your current schedule/routine that you do daily?

Laundry & ironing questions

1. Does the current house have a laundry machine and dryer?
2. Do you do laundry every day?
3. Do you know how to do hand washing? What are some of the things that you would hand wash?
4. How often do you change/wash the bedsheets in your previous employment?
5. What time of day do you usually like to do the ironing?

Cooking / kitchen questions

1. Do you like to cook?
2. Do you consider yourself good at cooking?
3. What types of food do you know how to cook? Chinese, Western, Malay, Indian, Japanese, etc?
4. Can you name some of the dishes that you know how to cook.
5. What is your favourite dish to cook? Can you tell me the recipe.
6. If the president was visiting your house. What is the best meal you would cook and serve him?
7. Can you follow a recipe book?
8. What type of recipe books have your read?
9. What type of kitchen appliances do you know how to use?
10. Do you bake? What types of things do you know how to bake.
11. Have you ever done meal planning?
12. Have you ever cooked for a large group of people / party? How big was the group? What did you prepare?
13. Do you know how to make a grocery/marketing list? How do you do it? Please explain?
14. How many meals a day to you cook for your current family?
15. What type of meals do you cook daily.
16. Please describe some breakfast, lunch and dinner meals that you know how to prepare.
17. Do you cook the meals by yourself, or is someone with you to help you?
18. Do the kids eat the same food as the adults?
19. Do the kids eat at the same time as the adults?

Grocery shopping/ running errands questions 

1. Are you familiar with the local wet markets in Singapore? What markets have you been to?
2. Are you familiar with the supermarkets / grocery stores? Which ones do you go to?
3. What type of errands have you done in the past? Pick up dry cleaning, shoe repair, post-office, etc.
4. How do you keep records of the money spent
5. How much money do you get to go to the market?
6. What type of transport do you take to get to the market?
7. Who does the food shopping in your current house?
8. Who goes to the market? Who goes to the store?

Expenditures/ cash allowances questions

1. Have you received cash for the shopping or errands before? What is the average amount of money you receive?
2. How do you keep records of the cash from your employer?
3. Do you have a separate EZ-Link card for work.
4. Have you ever asked for a cash advance before? What was the reason?

Babies/ infants experience

1. Do you have experience with a new born baby?
2. Do you know how to change a nappy / diaper?
3. Do you have experience bottle feeding a baby? Please explain what you have to do to prepare the bottle?
4. Do you have experience handling pumped breast milk? Washing a breast pump?
5. Do you have experience burping a baby?
6. What type of activities have you done with a baby?
7. If the baby can’t sleep at night, what are some of the methods you use to get him to fall asleep?
8. What do you do if the baby does not stop crying and your ma’am is not around?
9. Do you know how to make baby food? What are some things you have made.
10. Do you know any nursery rhymes or lullabies? Please tell me a few of your favorites.
11. Do you know any confinement food recipes? Breastfeeding/lactation recipes?

Kids experience

1. Do you like kids?
2. What is your experience with kids? With boys? With girls?
3. What are the ages of the kids that you have worked with in the past?
4. Do you have any experience working with kids with disabilities?
5. Can you swim?
6. Do you have any First Aid training? Where did you take your course? Please explain some common scenarios.
7. If my child is acting out, how would you scold them?
8. Do you have any experience taking kids to school? Picking up from the school bus? Taking kids to activities?
9. Have you packed a school lunch before? What do you normally pack in the lunch?
10. What type of snacks would you give a child after school?
11. Have you ever helped kids do their homework? What subjects?
12. Do you read books to the kids?
13. What is your involvement with the kids after-school activities?
14. What are some activities that you do with the kids?
15. What is your favourite game to play with the kids?
16. Who primarily takes care of the kids at home in your current family? You, grandma, mom, dad, etc?
17. If you can’t get a hold of Ma’am or Sir and there is an emergency with the kids (ex: child cut open lip and is bleeding, burned hand, etc.), what do you do?

Elderly/ disabled experience

1. Do you have any experience taking care of a senior citizen? Disabled?
2. Have you worked with someone that is bedridden? What are some of the duties you had to perform?
3. Do you have experience changing a bed pan? IV Drip? Pushing a wheelchair?
4. Do you have experience administering / giving medicine on a schedule?
5. What do you like best about working with the elderly? What is your least favourite thing?

Pet experience

1. Do you like animals? What animal is your favourite?
2. What animals are you afraid off?
3. Have you worked in a family with pets or had any pets of your own? What type of pets?
4. How big were the pets? What breed/kind?
5. What duties / responsibilities do you have with the pets?
6. If you have worked with pets in the past, on your day off, who takes care of the pets?
7. How often do you walk the dog?
8. How often do you change the litter box?
9. Have you ever given a dog a bath? Explain how you did this?

Dayoff/ public holidays questions

1. Are you flexible with your day off? What day do you prefer for your day off?
2. Do you get every Sunday off? Do you currently get public holidays off?
3. If necessary, will you work on your day off for extra money?
4. What time do you usually leave on Sunday and what time do you get back?
5. What do you like to do on Sundays?
6. Do you go to church or religious services?
7. What church do you attend?
8. Have you taken any classes in Singapore?
9. Are you very social?
10. Do you like partying? Do you go out drinking with your friends?
11. Do you have a lot of friends / family in Singapore?

Employer vacation questions

1. Does your current family go on vacation? What do you do while they are away?
2. What is the longest period of time that you have been alone while your employer was away on holiday?
3. Have you gone on any vacations with your previous employers? Where?
4. How do you help your Ma’am before a vacation? What are your duties?
5. Who packs the bags for the vacation?
6. Do you get spending money while the family is away?
7. Have you previously stayed in the home or at the agency?

Personal questions

1. What do you like to do in your spare time when you are finished with your work or have a break during your work schedule? Talk on the phone, sleep, read books, organize the cupboards, etc.
2. Do you enjoy taking naps during the day?
3. How often do you speak to your family/ husband/ kids back home? What time of day do you usually speak with them? Do you call, text and/or video chat?
4. Do you have a cell phone?
5. Do you have a computer?
6. What are you the most concerned / worried about in your home country?
7. Do you have a boyfriend?
8. So what does your boyfriend do? Where is he from?
9. Do you plan to get married soon?
10. Do you have any medical conditions? Do you take any medications?
11. Do you have any allergies to food?
12. Are there any specific foods that you cannot eat or be around?
13. What are your hobbies?
14. Do you have any special skills?
15. Are your parents alive? Are they in good health?
16. When was your last visit back to your home country?
17. When do you plan to visit your home country again? Are there any special occasions that you need to be home for?
18. When does your current passport expire?

The dashboard provides an overview of the status all your interactions with the Ministry of Helpers, such a chats, shortlists, favourites, recommendations, offers, etc. You can also access our services menu from the dashboard.

The documents section is your personal document vault. Uploading your documents is not mandatory, but it’s a free service that we provide for your convenience.

Here, you can keep all your documents neatly together and organised; as you might need them for your applications from MOM, Embassies, agents or with your helper / employer, educators, etc. It can also serve as a back-up of items like your passport and work pass, in case you misplace the original. All of these documents are stored in an encrypted and secured environment. For each document, only you can decide who can see, delete, or download it.

You can unsubscribe from our email service in the footer of any of our emails. However, we do recommend you to remain subscribed to get important reminders. We will try not to spam you and only send you useful messages.

Notifications in your browser or phone can be managed in the settings of your browser and phone. You can always check your messages by opening our website and clicking the notifications icon.

You and your match may, in the future, sign a contract and share a household together. Therefore, the information you provide must be complete and correct. We have divided your data in 2 parts; private data and non-attributable data.

Private data consists of information that is not shared without your explicit approval. This includes matters such as your full name, address, passport and NRIC information.

Non-attributable data is descriptive or indicative, rather than factual, and will contain information that describes the profile of your household and the terms of the contract under discussion. We may share this information on a need to know basis with interested parties as required for our service to function optimally, while always safeguarding your privacy to the maximum extent. You can always edit your profile, switch it on or off for publication or delete your account, upon which all your data will be purged.

For those who signed up via Facebook or who connected their account to Facebook, we obtain your Facebook display name, Facebook profile picture, and Facebook Friends that Facebook shares with us. This does not include the data required for logging in via Facebook.

It is very important to keep your profile updated. Your profile will always be the source of all actions, recommendations and reminders that we give to you. You can find your profile by using the “My Profile” icon in the page menu. You can always turn on/off the publication of your profile, so when you are not in the market for a match, you can turn it off; but we recommend you still keep it updated.

For employers, you have three subscription plans to choose from. The Lite plan costs $35 for 1 month, the Standard Plan costs $89 for 3 months, and the Premium Plan is $199 for 1 year. These plans provide you with full access to all services and features, including record keeping, household scheduler and document vault. Concierge services and insurance are charged separately. For helpers, the service is completely free of charge.

Ministry of Helpers prioritises transparent practices by implementing several key strategies. Firstly, we work with transparent partners and adhere to transparent processes, ensuring fairness and respect in all interactions. Our advanced matching system is designed to align domestic helpers' profiles with employers' needs accurately, eliminating inequality and inefficiency. Additionally, we provide personalised home management tools that foster respectful working environments. Our commitment to these principles helps create lasting, enjoyable relationships between employers and helpers, reflecting our dedication to transparent standards in every aspect of our service.