For some families, living without a domestic helper is impossible.Â
With mountains of work and children to take care of, parents need some help around the house, and someone to look after their kids.
According to British data analytics firm YouGov, around one in six (17%) Singaporean households currently employ a domestic helper.
Amongst high income households (earning more than SGD 15,000 a month), this jumps to three in ten (32%).
Most of the domestic helpers in Singapore are from Indonesia (44%), followed by the Philippines (26%), Myanmar (11%) and Malaysia (7%). The remaining 12% are from various countries.
Well, if you’re currently looking for an Indonesian domestic worker, you’re going to have to cough up much more dough than you anticipated.
New Indonesia FDW Will Cost $3k More for Employers; Cost Used to be Borne by FDWs
The one-time placement fee that used to be borne by foreign domestic workers (FDWs) will now be passed to employers, owing to a new policy implemented by the Indonesian authorities.
Now, employers will have to shell out an extra $3,000 to hire an Indonesia FDW, which covers expenses such as transportation, accommodation, and medical examinations.
Hitherto the new ruling, Indonesian FDWs coming to Singapore to work had to pay this steep fee by deducting it from their salary for months.
The minimum wage of an Indonesian FDW is $550 a month, and $570 and $450 for Filipino and Myanmar FDWs respectively, according to The New Paper.Â
This meant that Indonesians who came here to work as helpers were already indebted before they entered the country.
One Indonesian domestic helper told TNP that $340 was deducted from her salary for nine months to settle her debt when she first started working here.
“It was difficult as I had to support my husband and three-year-old son. This new rule will help new maids.”
New Policy to Help Indonesians
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) told TNPÂ that the Indonesian authorities are enforcing a “zero placement fee policy” from 1 Jan.
This means that employers will have to pay the placement fee themselves, which is $2,000 on average, but can go up to $3,000.
This new policy will allow Indonesian FDWs to come to Singapore debt-free.
Singapore residents, however, might turn to cheaper alternatives from other countries.
Covid-19 Expenses
Those who are willing to pay the extra $3,000 will also have to shell out another $1,700, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is for an incoming FDW’s swab tests and quarantine at dedicated facilities.
This means that if you were to hire an Indonesian FDW from 1 Jan next year, it could cost you an extra $4,700.Â
Some employment agencies have reached out to MOM over the matter, hoping the ministry will speak to the Indonesian government to help alleviate some of the financial burden on Singapore employers.
Featured Image: kandl stock / Shutterstock.com
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