Helper / FDW hiring for HNW families — Costs and fees breakdown
Helper / fdw hiring for hnw families in Singapore is regulated by the Ministry of Manpower through the Work Permit framework. Expect an all-in first-year cost of roughly S$8,000-S$15,000 per helper once agency fees, the monthly levy, insurance and the security bond are counted, with the Work Permit itself issued within about one to two weeks.
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.
How helper / fdw hiring for hnw families works
Hiring a migrant domestic worker (MDW, still widely called a foreign domestic worker or FDW) is governed by the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and administered by the Ministry of Manpower. The employer, an individual and not an entity, holds the Work Permit and carries statutory duties: paying the monthly levy, buying medical and personal-accident insurance, posting a security bond for non-Malaysian helpers, and providing acceptable accommodation and rest days. High-net-worth families frequently employ more than one helper and may also engage private nurses or specialist carers, which can change the pass type and the cost profile.
Who this is for
Relocating and resident HNW families managing large households, young children, or elderly dependants who need day-to-day care. The same families are usually structuring their wealth and residency in parallel; this related guide covers the family-office and tax side, and this related guide the corporate set-up for those establishing a Singapore base. Coordinating household staffing with the family’s own immigration timeline avoids the awkward gap where the family has arrived but the household support has not.
Eligibility and employer duties
Employers must be 21 or older, pass the MOM entry requirements and, in many cases, complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme before the first hire. The helper must meet age and source-country criteria and pass a medical examination. Statutory duties then continue for the whole employment: timely levy payment, valid insurance, six-monthly medical screening, adherence to salary and rest-day rules, and safe, private accommodation. These duties are personal to the employer and cannot be delegated away to an agency.
Helper / fdw hiring for hnw families costs and fees breakdown
- Agency placement fee: S$1,000-S$3,000 per helper.
- Monthly levy: S$300 at the standard rate, reduced to S$60 under the concessionary rate where a qualifying young child, elderly or disabled person lives in the household.
- Security bond: S$5,000 for non-Malaysian helpers, usually a banker’s or insurer’s guarantee rather than cash.
- Insurance: medical and personal-accident cover, roughly S$300-S$600 per year.
- Monthly salary: commonly S$600-S$1,000 depending on nationality and experience, higher for trained carers.
- Work Permit issuance: around one to two weeks after in-principle approval.
Step-by-step process
1. Confirm eligibility and complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme if required. 2. Select a helper through a licensed employment agency. 3. Apply for the Work Permit and buy the required insurance and security bond. 4. On in-principle approval, arrange arrival, the medical examination and the settling-in programme for first-time helpers. 5. Issue the Work Permit card. 6. Pay the levy monthly and keep insurance and medicals current for the life of the permit.
Common mistakes and gotchas
Late levy payment can lead to Work Permit revocation; lapsed insurance and missed six-monthly medicals are also frequent breaches. HNW households with multiple helpers should track each permit’s renewal, levy and insurance separately, because it is easy to lose sight of one when several run at once. Housing standards and rest-day entitlements are enforced, so informal arrangements that suit a busy household but breach the rules create real risk. For a full costed household-staffing checklist, see the companion article.
Official resources
FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a helper in Singapore?
Budget roughly S$8,000-S$15,000 in the first year once agency fees, levy, insurance, the security bond and salary are counted, then recurring salary, levy and insurance thereafter.
What is the monthly levy for a domestic helper?
S$300 at the standard rate, or S$60 under the concessionary rate where a qualifying young child, elderly or disabled family member lives in the household.
Is a security bond always required?
A S$5,000 security bond is required for non-Malaysian helpers, usually provided as a banker's or insurer's guarantee rather than cash.
How long does the Work Permit take?
The permit is typically issued within about one to two weeks after in-principle approval, assuming the medical and documentation are in order.
Can a company employ the helper instead of an individual?
No. The Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker is held by an individual employer, who carries the statutory duties personally.
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.