A year-end bonus or "13th month" payment is not a MOM requirement for helpers. Your obligation is to pay the salary stated in her employment contract, on time. Many employers still choose to give a bonus, at year-end, before her home leave or at contract renewal, as a thank-you and to encourage her to stay.
Common approaches
- Year-end or festive bonus: paid in December, or before Hari Raya, Christmas or Lunar New Year, depending on her and your household.
- Completion or renewal bonus: paid when she completes the contract or agrees to renew.
- Performance-linked bonus: tied to a simple review. Keep the criteria fair and clear.
- Non-cash gestures: an extra rest day, help with an air ticket, or a phone upgrade.
Put it in writing
If you promise a bonus, write down the amount or formula and when it will be paid, and add it to the contract or a signed note. A clear record avoids disappointment and disputes. Verbal promises made during the interview are a common source of misunderstanding.
Paying and recording it
- Pay the bonus separately from her monthly salary, or show it as a separate line.
- Bank transfer gives both of you a record. If you pay in cash, ask her to sign an acknowledgement.
- Keep the record with her salary records. MOM expects employers to keep proper salary records, and her records are checked at the first-time helper interviews.
Things to avoid
- Using a bonus to replace salary you owe, rest-day compensation or other contractual payments.
- Withholding salary until year-end.
- Deducting from salary for reasons not allowed under MOM's salary guidelines.
Deciding what is right for your household
There is no standard amount. Consider your budget, her length of service and the extra responsibilities she has taken on. Discuss it openly at her annual review so she knows what to expect.
See MOM's employer's guide for salary guidelines, and our maid cost guide for budgeting.
Whatever you decide, explain it at the start of employment so there are no surprises at the end of the year.
Salary changes during employment
A raise does not need to be reported to MOM, and MOM suggests employers consider regular increases and a gratuity at the end of a contract. A reduction is different: it needs your helper's written consent and an update in FDW eService. A bonus paid on top of salary is simpler, because her regular salary stays the same.
Whatever you decide, record the amount and the date paid alongside her salary records.
Common questions
Is a 13th-month bonus compulsory for helpers?
MOM does not require it. It is a voluntary practice, so agree any bonus clearly and in writing.
Should a bonus be shown in salary records?
It is good practice to record it, separately from her monthly salary, and to pay it by bank transfer or with a signed acknowledgement.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Procedures change, so confirm the current steps on mom.gov.sg or with your licensed employment agency.
