Hiring a helper when you have a baby: MOM rules, levy concession and costs

MOM's monthly levy for a helper is S$300 for the first helper and S$450 for each further one. With a Singapore citizen child below 16 in the household it is S$60. MOM says that for a parent this concession starts automatically from the date the child was born, with nothing to apply for. A Work Permit costs S$35 to apply for and S$35 to issue. MOM says an online application takes within 1 week.

Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026

This page sets out what MOM and IRAS publish. It does not say whether a helper is right for your family. MOM calls helpers "migrant domestic workers" (MDWs); some older pages say "foreign domestic workers" (FDWs).

The levy, and the concession for a baby

Monthly helper levy rates, from MOM
Levy	A month	A day (part months)
First helper	S$300	S$9.87
Each further helper	S$450	S$14.80
Concession	S$60	S$1.98

MOM says the levy for a first-time helper starts on day 5 after she arrives (counting the arrival day), and otherwise the day after she arrives. Each month's levy is due by the 17th of the next month. Employers pay no CPF for a helper.

MOM's levy concession page says a Singapore citizen child below 16 living in the household qualifies:

If you are the parent, it "will automatically start from the date your child was born".
If you are not the parent, it starts from the date you add the child as a household member on MOM's FDW eService.
It covers 1 helper per eligible person, and at most 2 helpers per household.
MOM says the lower rate shows "within your next 2 levy bills", backdated. If it doesn't, MOM has a form to check why and replies within 2 working days.

Who can employ a helper

MOM says an employer must be 21 or older and not an undischarged bankrupt. MOM says it also considers your care-giving needs (for example young children) and your financial ability to hire, maintain and house the helper. First-time employers must first attend the Employers' Orientation Programme (below).

On income, MOM says household income is a criterion but "we are unable to reveal the exact amount". It says the amount is set on "the realistic overall cost of hiring a migrant domestic worker (MDW), including worker's salary, levy, insurance, food and other expenses". Married couples can combine incomes. In Parliament on 5 April 2022, MOM said it has no rigid income criterion. It said that over the previous 5 years about 2,000 applications a year (about 1%) were rejected.

MOM allows a second helper if, among other conditions, you have at least 2 children below 18 living with you. Each household can have up to 2 helpers.

Who can be a helper

MOM says a helper must be female, aged 23 to below 50 when you apply, from an approved source country or region, and have at least 8 years of formal education with a recognised certificate. She must not be related to you and must work at your NRIC-registered address.

The steps, and how long MOM says each takes

First-time employers: the Employers' Orientation Programme. MOM says to complete it at least 2 working days before applying. It costs S$35 to S$76 in a classroom and S$29 to S$36 online. If the mother's delivery date is within 1 month of the date she applies to appoint her spouse (or she gave birth 1 month or less before it), her spouse can attend for her.
Apply for the Work Permit. MOM says to get the helper's written consent, then apply on the FDW eService for S$35. It takes "within 1 week, unless more information is required". The paper form, only for employers without Singpass, takes within 3 weeks. Approval comes as an in-principle approval (IPA) letter. You can apply yourself or through an employment agency.
Before she arrives. Buy the security bond (not needed for a Malaysian helper) and the insurance (below). Book the Settling-in Programme for a first-time helper.
After she arrives. MOM says a first-time helper attends the 1-day Settling-in Programme within 7 days, not counting Sundays and public holidays, and can start work only after it. Every helper has a medical examination within 14 days. You get the permit issued within 2 weeks of her arrival, for S$35.
The card. MOM says a Temporary Work Permit is valid for 1 month, and the card is delivered within 5 working days after any registration.

MOM lists the Settling-in Programme fees, paid by the employer and including GST: Absolute Kinetics Consultancy S$76.40, Grace Management & Consultancy Services S$92.65, NTUC LearningHub S$77.00.

Security bond and insurance

MOM says you must buy a S$5,000 security bond for each helper except a Malaysian one, as a bank or insurer guarantee. It must take effect when she arrives, or she will not be allowed into Singapore. The bank or insurer takes up to 3 working days to send MOM the details. You cannot ask the helper to pay for it.

MOM says medical insurance must cover inpatient care and day surgery with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000. Since 1 July 2023, claims above S$15,000 are shared 75% by the insurer and 25% by the employer. Personal accident insurance must be at least S$60,000. The cost cannot be passed on to the helper. MOM does not publish premiums.

A rule for households with a child below 7

MOM says that from 1 September 2025, "employers of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) must ensure that their MDW has immunity against measles if their households have a child below seven years old who is not fully vaccinated against measles". The employer declares the position when the permit is issued or renewed, and pays any costs. MOM estimates the cost of two vaccine doses at S$80 to S$140. For your child's own vaccinations, see HealthHub or your polyclinic.

Rest days, housing and pay

Rest days. MOM says a helper gets 1 rest day a week, agreed between you. If she works on it, you pay at least 1 day's salary on top. At least 1 rest day a month cannot be paid off.
Housing. MOM requires shelter, a mattress, pillow, blanket and toiletries, ventilation and safety. She must not share a bedroom with a male adult or teenager. Cameras must not be placed where she sleeps, changes or bathes. MOM says you should give her a separate room, or else make sure she has adequate space and privacy.
Food and medical costs. MOM says to give her 3 meals a day. The employer pays all her medical costs, including the six-monthly medical examination.
Salary. MOM says "MOM does not prescribe minimum wages for all workers in Singapore, including FDWs". It says to pay monthly, no later than 7 days after the salary period, and not less than the amount declared to MOM.
One official wage floor. For Filipino helpers, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers raised the minimum monthly wage from US$400 to at least US$500. The change was issued on 22 August 2025 and applies to contracts made or renewed 60 days after that. This is the Philippine government's rule, not Singapore's.

The costs MOM lists

MOM's employer's guide says that apart from the levy and salary, the employer pays for: medical treatment, including treatment not related to work, accommodation, food, agency fees, work pass fees, accident and medical insurance, her return air ticket. The published amounts are:

Helper costs with a published amount, from MOM
Cost	Amount	How often
Levy	S$60 with a citizen child below 16; else S$300 (first helper)	Monthly
Work Permit	S$35 to apply, S$35 to issue	Each permit
Employers' Orientation Programme	S$29 to S$76	Once (first-time employers)
Settling-in Programme	S$76.40 to S$92.65	Once (first-time helpers)
Security bond	A S$5,000 guarantee (the bank's or insurer's charge is not published)	Each helper, except Malaysians
Measles vaccination, if needed	About S$80 to S$140 (MOM's estimate)	Once

MOM does not publish typical salaries, agency fees, insurance premiums or food costs, so we don't give them.

Tax reliefs

IRAS says the Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Relief has ended: Year of Assessment 2024 was the last year it could be claimed.
IRAS says a working mother who is married, divorced or widowed can deduct S$3,000 a year if a grandparent living in Singapore, earning S$8,000 a year or less, looks after her Singapore citizen child aged 12 or below. It reduces tax; it is not cash. It is for a grandparent who looks after the child, not a helper. Source: IRAS
IRAS says working mothers who are married, divorced or widowed can deduct S$8,000 (1st), S$10,000 (2nd) or S$12,000 (3rd and later) a year for Singapore citizen children born from 2024. It reduces tax; it is not cash. Source: IRAS

Dates set by MOM's rules, for a baby due on 15 June 2027

This is an example, not advice. It shows only the dates MOM's rules fix, for a baby born on the due date. No official source says how long before a birth families start hiring a helper.

Example dates for a baby due on 15 June 2027
When	What the source says
15 May 2027 to 15 July 2027	A first-time employer's spouse can attend the Employers' Orientation Programme for the mother, if the delivery date is within 1 month of the date she applies to appoint him (or the baby was born 1 month or less before it). Source: MOM
From 18 May 2027	Confinement nanny Work Permit applications open (4 weeks before the due date). Source: MOM
15 June 2027	Birth on the due date, in this example. For a parent employer with a helper, the levy concession for a Singapore citizen child starts automatically from this date. Source: MOM
5 October 2027	16 weeks after the birth: the latest end of any confinement nanny Work Permit, and the last day to apply for one. After this MOM says to apply for a helper's Work Permit instead. Source: MOM

For your own dates, the free tool shows the levy concession date and the confinement nanny window with your other payments and deadlines.

Hiring a confinement nanny: MOM's rules · Infant care costs after subsidies · Planning parental leave between you

Not yet confirmed

These details were not published on the official pages when we checked them on 29 September 2026. We will update this page when they are.

How far before a birth families usually start hiring a helper. No official source says.
MOM's minimum household income to employ a helper. MOM says it does not disclose the amount.
Typical helper salaries in Singapore, agency fees and insurance premiums. We found no official figures; the only official wage floor we found is the Philippine one above.
Whether a family with a helper can also claim the Grandparent Caregiver Relief. IRAS does not mention helpers either way.

Sources

Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026

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