HELP AT HAND
We asked our contributors
to list some of the key
questions to ask a helper
during an interview.How long have you been in
Singapore?
What are your priorities when
looking after the home?
How do you imagine your
daily routine?
How long did you work for
your previous employer?
Can you speak and read
English well?
What can you tell us about
your family back home?
What experience do you have
in looking after children?
What did you like most about
your previous position?
What would you do in the
event of an emergency at home?
What motivates you?
What do you believe your
strengths are?
Why are you leaving your
current employer?
What sort of dishes do you
like to cook?
What is your medical history?
Have you completed any
courses (for example, first aid,
cooking, childcare)?Remember, your helper is going
to become an important part
off your family – n ot just an
employee. Getting to know them,
and their likes and dislikes, will
make the transition as smooth as
possible for you and your family.New in
2019
Changes
to the
monthly
levy rate
will come
into place
on 1 April
2019,
with a
rise from
$265 to
$300,
and to
$450 for
a second
helper.#3
“How many days off should I
give my helper?”
Most expats give their helper every
Sunday and public holidays off, plus a two-
week holiday every two years to their home
country. To counter the instance of maids
working without rest, the Ministry of Manpower
(MOM) mandated that, from 1 January 2013,
all employers must give helpers one day off per
week (or fairly compensate them, should they
be required to work).
#4
“What’s the easiest way
to hire a helper?”
Fees vary, but for around $400 a maid
agency will find you a maid, and will usually give
you the chance to interview several. Alternatively,
you can source a maid yourself and complete the
paperwork on the MOM website. Some expats
who are leaving Singapore help their maid to find
work by advertising on noticeboards, Facebook
forums or by word of mouth. Note: be wary of
taking the word of an ex-employer if they are
transferring a helper and changing to a new one;
they can sometimes be generous with the truth
in order to “move them on”.
SINGAPORE HACKSCITY GUIDE 2018 61