Maid checklist: What happens before and after arrival?
Hiring a maid can be very complicated. The processes from recruitment to deployment can be long and tedious. But how can we make sure that any possible issues are dealt with before they arrive?
Most employers will usually depend on an employment agency to help them in hiring a maid. Many times, the employer asks the maid agency on what checks are being done on the maid.
So, what are the checks being done on the maid?
1. During recruitment stages in their home country:
- Passport, educational certificate and birth certificate are checked to make sure their age and educational status are in accordance with the Ministry of Manpower’s requirements
- The Singapore maid agency should also interview them either personally or via video/teleconference to verify these and ask them about their working experiences and preferences
Maids being personally interviewed in Philippines by the local Singapore maid agency
- Their physical appearance and mannerism are also checked
- Medical checkup is done in their home country to make sure that they are physically fit to work
- Insurance is also purchased in their home country, if necessary
- Any compulsory training, if required. Typically for Indonesians it is 40 days of compulsory training and for Filipinos, it is 14 days of compulsory training
- Any other requirements or regulations needed in their home country or as per MOM’s requirements
From Ministry of Manpower’s website – requirements of FDW
2. After arrival in Singapore:
- For non ex-Singapore maids, they have to undergo Settling in Programme (“SIP”). This is a 1 day course in orientating the maid to Singapore’s lifestyle and teaching them basic safety measures e.g. how to clean windows and hang clothes properly
- Another medical is done in Singapore. This medical is standardized as per MOM’s requirements
- An appointment is arranged with MOM to register the maid for her thumbprint to be done. This is also to check if the maid is an ex-Singapore
3. Others
- A 6 monthly medical check up is also done to make sure that the maid is fit to work
- Service calls might also be made by the local maid agency to the employers to make sure all is well with the employer and the maid.
Note that this list is not exhaustive and should not be relied on when checking any appropriate rules or regulations.
