Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of Migrant Domestic Worker (MDWs) allowed to enter the country has significantly reduced. This has resulted in a massive shortage of MDWs and increased over-dependency on the Transfer Market.
But the latest development comes as a huge relief to employers in Singapore who have been struggling to hire foreign maids.
They can now apply for foreign domestic workers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the country from November 1, through the
Safe Travel portal.
The applications for entry of the new maids were opened on October 15.
Vaccination For Maids In Singapore Mandatory To Enter The Country
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In a Facebook post, the Minister of State for Manpower, Gan Siow Huang briefed citizens about the updated regulations for entry of foreign maids into the country.
She said that while the government has increased the entry approval quotas, the numbers will continue to be regulated for public health reasons. Also, preference will be given to those families with caregiving needs.
Due to the increased demand, there are chances that some employers may not succeed in getting entry approvals within the immediate period. These people can again access to the portal in the following weeks when further entry approval slots will be available.
Ms Gan advised that families who are urgently looking for domestic workers can approach the commercial programme run by the Association of Employment Agencies Singapore (AEAS).
Vaccination For Maids In Singapore Is Under AEA(S) Pilot Project
Image courtesy: File Photo
This pilot programme was kickstarted around four months ago to help meet the rising demand for foreign maids.
The association put in place certain safety management measures for the maids in their home countries before they entered Singapore.
Under this initiative (since July 2021), maids from Indonesia and the Philippines have entered the island.
So, families can tap this programme if they need maids urgently. This has been effective in screening maids infected with COVID-19 from slipping into the country.
Unvaccinated maids entering the country through this programme will need to take both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine within two months post their arrival.
Ms Gan shared, “With the latest increase in entry approvals for maids, I hope more families will be able to meet their caregiving needs at home.
As part of the AEA(S) Pilot project:
- All the MDWs will go through multiple COVID-19 tests over a 14-day period at on-boarding facilities in their home countries.
- On their arrival in Singapore, they will be subjected to the prevailing arrival measures, including a 10-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN).
- Those employers who hire MDWs through this pilot will have to pay additional fees that will cover the costs of overseas testing and onboarding of the MDWs.
The employers and employment agencies need to take note that the programme entails strict isolation processes and intensive testing regimens.
Entry Of New Maids Could Still Take 3 To 6 Months
Tan See Leng, Manpower Minister, had earlier said that priority for entry approvals will be given to those families with urgent and challenging caregiving facilities.
They mainly include the sick and the senior members, as well as people with special needs.
Manpower Ministry (MOM) has taken all the necessary steps to allow maids whose entry approvals were postponed in May 2021 to enter the island before this year ends.
Even though new maids can enter the country from November 1, Mr Tan, however, cautioned that it would take some time before employers can expect their helpers to arrive.
Sharing a clearer picture, he said, “As the entry approvals continue to be limited for public health reasons, it may take around three to six months before their migrant domestic workers can enter. This will of course depend on the Covid-19 situation at source and locally.”
He assured that if the situation shows improvement in the region, they can consider approving more people to enter.
Regulations Where Maids Quit For Frivolous Reasons
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Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) had recently highlighted that there is an increase in the number of maids requesting transfers before their contract ended over the past year.
She had asked if the authorities would consider getting strict regulations to protect those employers who had caregiving needs and if a maid decides to quit the job for “frivolous reasons.”
Mr Tan informed that MOM is planning to launch a scheme in early 2022 that will require employment agencies to provide an option to refund employers at least half of their service fees if the maid quits in the first six months.
He further shared that families who are looking to hire a maid can also do their own background check of the maids. For instance, checking her employment history, and also the reasons for leaving the last job.
Source: The Straits Times
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