Use this as a responsibility map
This household MDW map is not a rule set for company-employed care roles. Recheck the live MOM notice, bill or eService for the case.
Pay salary on time and preserve the payment record
Pay salary monthly, no later than 7 days after the salary period ends. Keep the correct bank or signed cash record; the employer must not retain the MDW's salary, money, bank book or bank card.
Agree rest days separately from ordinary salary
MOM provides one rest day each week. Work on an agreed rest day requires additional compensation, not part of basic salary, and at least 1 rest day each month cannot be compensated away.
Use the correct MOM levy route
The monthly MDW levy is not an employment-agency fee, Work Permit application fee or site calculator. Use MOM's live payment, concession or waiver route; this guide cannot decide eligibility or an account outcome.
Follow the 6ME notice and clinic process
Follow the 6ME notice and due date; the clinic submits all results to MOM. MDWs aged 50 or above do not attend 6ME and instead have a renewal medical. The 6ME is distinct from the pre-employment examination, and both are distinct from medical insurance.
Keep salary, levy and medical records private
Do not send a passport, FIN, Work Permit, bank details, salary record, levy bill, medical form, result or insurance document through a public page or unsolicited first message.
Choose cancellation only when transfer is not proceeding
Cancellation ends the current employment route. Direct and EA-assisted transfer are separate routes. In MOM's direct-transfer sequence, the current Work Permit is automatically cancelled when the new employer issues the new permit; otherwise use cancellation when employment ends.
Complete the end-employment steps before cancelling
Agree the last work day, settle salary, check the passport and written travel arrangements, then use the FDW eService. If she remains in Singapore, give her the Special Pass and ensure departure before expiry. Once the Work Permit is cancelled, she cannot work.
Start the arrival checklist only after entry
Arrival steps begin after the MDW has entered Singapore; bond, insurance and travel preparation remain pre-arrival. A first-time MDW must attend SIP within 7 days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays, while every newly arrived MDW needs the pre-employment medical examination within 14 days.
Use the first 14 days for permit issuance, not 6ME
MOM says the initial Work Permit should be issued within 2 weeks from arrival. Complete the required SIP and medical steps, issue the permit, follow any registration instruction and give the Temporary Work Permit to the MDW. This is not the recurring six-monthly medical examination and not medical insurance.
Use the rest of the first 30 days to establish safe household routines
The first 30 days are a practical orientation frame, not one MOM deadline. Complete applicable registration, card delivery and safety-agreement steps, then agree household work, salary records and rest days without expanding domestic work into company duties.
Keep lifecycle records out of public first contact
Share only the lifecycle branch and timing, not identity, pass, travel, salary, medical, insurance, bank or payment records. These household MDW steps do not establish a company-employed caregiver or caretaker Work Permit route, medical conclusion, transaction authority or guaranteed outcome.
Freshness and provenance
What changed in this review
- : Added cancellation, post-arrival and first-30-days guidance while preserving separate renewal, extension, transfer, EOP, medical and insurance lanes.
Read the public guide review-date and material-change rules.
Relevant service