Helper / FDW hiring for HNW families — Complete 2026 guide

Helper / FDW hiring for HNW families in Singapore means employing a foreign domestic worker on a Work Permit, with the family acting as the legal employer. High-net-worth families relocating here typically need experienced help quickly, often more than one helper, and must meet the Ministry of Manpower’s eligibility, levy, security-bond and accommodation rules before the helper can start.

Little Big Employment Agency (EA Licence 19C9790) works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

Helper / FDW hiring for HNW families: the essentials

A foreign domestic worker (FDW), now formally a Migrant Domestic Worker, is employed under a Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Manpower. The family is the employer of record and carries the legal duties: paying salary, providing acceptable accommodation and food, arranging medical insurance, and ensuring wellbeing and rest days. FDWs sit outside the Employment Act 1968, but they are protected by the conditions attached to the Work Permit under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990, which set minimum employer obligations and penalties for breach.

Who is eligible to employ a helper

The employer must be 21 or older, must not be an undischarged bankrupt, and must be able to maintain and care for the helper. For families newly arrived, the sponsoring family member usually holds an Employment Pass, S Pass or a Long-Term Visit Pass; the family’s own immigration status is administered by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. Settling the household first makes the helper application smoother, which is why our complete guide to relocating to Singapore with your family is a sensible first read.

Costs: levies, bonds and the running budget

Budget for both one-off and recurring costs (2026 indicative figures; confirm current rates):

• Monthly FDW levy: S$300 at the standard rate, reduced to S$60 under the concessionary rate where a household member qualifies (for example, a young child, an elderly person or a person with disabilities).
• Security bond: a S$5,000 banker’s or insurer’s guarantee is required for each non-Malaysian helper.
• Medical and personal-accident insurance: mandatory, with minimum coverage thresholds set by MOM.
• Salary: market rates vary widely by nationality and experience; experienced helpers for larger households command a premium.
• Agency placement fee: payable to a licensed employment agency for sourcing and processing.
• Six-monthly medical examination for the helper, plus the cost of home leave and repatriation.

Accommodation rules HNW families should note

Even in a large private home, MOM requires the helper to have adequate, safe accommodation and rest. Families housing helpers in HDB premises (for example, a relative’s flat) must observe occupancy and subletting rules administered by the Housing & Development Board. Where a helper will also assist with driving or school runs, the family should confirm licensing and vehicle requirements with the Land Transport Authority before assigning that duty.

The hiring process, step by step

1. Confirm eligibility and decide on direct hire versus agency placement.
2. Source the candidate and verify experience, references and medical fitness.
3. Apply for the Work Permit through MOM, paying the application fee and arranging the security bond and insurance.
4. Helper enters Singapore and completes the medical examination and, for first-time helpers, the Settling-In Programme.
5. Issue the Work Permit card and begin employment under a clear written agreement.

Substance for the family’s own structure

HNW families often relocate alongside a family office or holding structure. Where decisions for an overseas business are taken from Singapore, the family should understand permanent-establishment exposure, explained in our corporate partners’ guide to Singapore permanent establishment rules, and ensure any local entity has a proper registered address and filings, as set out in the guide to Singapore registered address and BizFile+ filings.

Employer duties and the helper’s wellbeing

Being a good employer is also a legal obligation. The Work Permit conditions under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 require the employer to pay salary on time and in full, provide safe and adequate accommodation, ensure the helper has acceptable food and rest, and arrange medical care and insurance. Helpers are entitled to a weekly rest day, which can be substituted by compensation only by mutual written agreement. Employers must also not deploy the helper to work at premises or in jobs not declared to the Ministry of Manpower.

For HNW households, the practical risks are usually around informal arrangements rather than deliberate breaches: lending the helper to a relative’s household, assigning duties never agreed, or treating rest days casually. Each of these can breach the permit conditions and put the security bond at risk. A clear written employment agreement, a sensible roster, prompt salary payment through a traceable channel, and respect for rest days protect both the helper and the employer. Where multiple helpers are employed, give each a defined role and ensure accommodation genuinely meets the required standard.

Common mistakes and gotchas

• Assuming the Employment Act applies. It does not cover FDWs; the Work Permit conditions and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 govern instead.
• Skipping the concessionary levy check. Many eligible families overpay the levy by not applying for the concession.
• Informal rest-day arrangements. Rest days and compensation in lieu must be agreed in writing.
• Reusing one bond for two helpers. Each non-Malaysian helper needs a separate S$5,000 security bond.

FAQs

Can we employ more than one helper? Yes, subject to MOM approval, which considers household size and need; larger HNW households frequently employ two.

How much is the levy really? S$300 a month at the standard rate, or S$60 under the concessionary rate where a qualifying household member exists; confirm the current quantum with MOM.

Is the security bond refundable? The S$5,000 bond is a guarantee, not a deposit; it is discharged when the helper is repatriated and obligations are met, but it can be forfeited for breaches.

Can the helper drive our children to school? Only if properly licensed and insured for that purpose; check the LTA requirements before assigning driving duties.

Do we need an agency? No, direct hire is permitted, but a licensed agency reduces the administrative load and helps with sourcing and replacement.

Need help with this? Call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133, or email [email protected]. Little Big Employment Agency (EA Licence 19C9790) works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.