Levy is a MOM charge — not the helper’s salary
FDW levy in Singapore: what employers pay each month refers to the foreign worker levy payable while a migrant domestic worker’s (MDW / FDW) Work Pass is valid. It is separate from salary, agency professional fees, and insurance/bond premiums. Soft Ministry of Manpower (MOM): confirm live levy rates and payment rules on mom.gov.sg. This page does not invent dollar amounts.
SmartMaid.com.sg is a marketplace. Licensed EAs help with placement. Platform ≠ agency.
Neighbouring hubs:
- MDW levy concession guide
- How SmartMaid differs from a maid agency (unique #82)
- First-time employer hire guide (unique #84)
- Security bond overview (unique #70)
- This article: monthly levy mindset + payment habits
What the levy is (plain English)
While you employ an MDW on a valid Work Pass, MOM requires a monthly levy in line with current rules. Exact figures, tiers, and concessions change — always check MOM, not screenshots in chats.
What levy is not
- Not the helper’s salary
- Not your EA’s service fee
- Not the security bond itself
- Not optional “if we forget GIRO”
Keep each cost line separate when you budget privately.
How employers usually pay
Most households use GIRO / electronic payment channels MOM supports. Ask your EA to walk through:
- When levy starts relative to Work Pass issuance
- What happens on cancellation / transfer timing
- How to fix failed GIRO deductions
File payment confirmations in your employment records (#66).
Concession pointer (no rates here)
Some households may qualify for concessionary levy under MOM criteria. Read the concession guide and confirm eligibility on MOM — do not self-declare from rumours. No concession $ figures on this page.
Budgeting tip without numbers
When comparing biodata on SmartMaid, remember total cost of employment includes levy + salary + EA fees + insurance/bond themes. Get a written EA quotation; don’t invent market averages.
Soft MOM reminder
Live levy rates, payment deadlines, and penalties sit on mom.gov.sg. Marketplace ≠ agency. Emergency: 995 / 999.
Checklist
- [ ] Understand levy ≠ salary ≠ agency fee
- [ ] Checked live MOM levy page
- [ ] GIRO/payment path set with EA help
- [ ] Concession eligibility checked only via MOM if relevant
- [ ] No invented $ shared publicly
- [ ] Platform ≠ agency
Scripts
To EA: Please confirm when levy payment starts for our Work Pass, how GIRO is set up, and point us to the current MOM levy page — we won’t rely on chat-group numbers.
To co-employer: Levy is a separate monthly MOM line item. We’ll budget using MOM’s published rates, not guesses.
Bottom line
FDW levy in Singapore: what employers pay each month is a MOM Work Pass cost, paid through proper channels, distinct from salary and agency fees. Confirm live amounts on soft MOM pages; use SmartMaid to find helpers and a licensed EA to complete hiring — without invented dollar figures or stereotypes.
Related employer guides: FDW levy · salary and total cost · Work Permit checklist.
Last reviewed: August 2026. Employment rules change — confirm current requirements on mom.gov.sg.
