Why these questions matter before you sign
Signing with a licensed employment agency (EA) in Singapore locks in how recruitment, interviews, paperwork, and placement will run for your household. A short verbal pitch is not enough. Ask for answers in writing (email or a clear service summary) before you pay a deposit or commit to a package.
This page is a question checklist, not a price list. Agency packages differ; do not invent dollar figures from forums or friends. Compare structure (what is included, what is refundable, when money is due) and confirm every compliance step with the agency and on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) FDW employer pages.
SmartMaid.com.sg is a marketplace for browsing and shortlisting helper biodata published by licensed agencies. SmartMaid is not a maid agency: it does not issue Work Permits, set your employment contract, or collect agency placement fees on the agency’s behalf. Browse maid agencies on Smart Maid, then ask the questions below of the EA you plan to sign with. For the full first-hire map, see How to hire a domestic helper in Singapore.
1. Fee structure — what you pay for (without guessing $)
Ask the agency to break fees into named line items, not one opaque “package.” Typical buckets to clarify (amounts vary; get their written quote):
| Ask about | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Agency / placement service fee | What recruitment, matching, and paperwork support covers |
| Helper-related costs handled through the agency | Training, medicals, travel, or other items if included — confirm which |
| MOM / government-related items | Levy, security bond, insurance, and Work Permit-related costs are employer obligations; clarify who applies vs who pays |
| Deposit vs balance | When each is due, and what triggers the balance |
| What is refundable if hiring does not proceed | Abort before IPA, after IPA, after arrival, or after failed match — each stage may differ |
| What is not included | Surprises often sit outside the brochure package |
Do not treat a friend’s past invoice as your quote. Reconfirm the live breakdown for your case (transfer vs overseas new hire can change cost shape and timing). For the broader household budget picture — salary, levy, insurance, rest-day pay — read Maid salary and total cost in Singapore without copying any dollar figure from this page.
Questions to get in writing:
- Can you itemise every fee and say which are refundable at which stage?
- What happens to my deposit if I pause or cancel before the helper starts?
- Are there admin or “document” fees beyond the main package?
2. Replacement and guarantee period
Replacement language is where many employers feel burned later. Clarify:
- Guarantee / replacement window — how long after placement, and what “starts the clock” (arrival date, first day of work, signed contract).
- What counts as a valid replacement reason — medical unfit, resignation, mismatch, or only specific listed causes.
- How many replacements are included, and whether each reset has conditions.
- Who pays for re-processing, medicals, or travel on a replacement (structure only — get their numbers in writing).
- Transfer vs overseas new hire — replacement paths and lead times differ; confirm which pipeline you are entering. Compare transfer maid vs new hire from overseas.
Ask: “If the match fails within the guarantee period, what are the exact steps and timelines, and what costs (if any) shift to me?”
3. Rest-day and salary discussion process
Rest days and salary should be discussed before you lock the hire — not after she arrives and everyone is tired.
Ask the agency:
- How and when will monthly salary, payment method, and any agreed allowances be recorded?
- How will weekly rest days, the monthly rest day that cannot be compensated away, and pay-when-she-works-on-a-rest-day be documented?
- Will these terms appear in the employment contract / house-rules addendum the agency uses?
- Who facilitates the conversation if the helper and household disagree during interview?
Do not ask the agency to arrange “no off days forever for higher pay” — that conflicts with MOM rest-day rules. For the rules overview, use Rest days for domestic helpers in Singapore: rules and fair arrangements. Salary and total-cost context: Maid salary and total cost in Singapore.
4. Work Permit timeline — who files what, and when
Licensed EAs typically coordinate MOM Work Permit steps; you remain the employer of record with obligations (levy, insurance, bond, suitability). Ask:
- Who submits the Work Permit / IPA application and on what target timeline for transfer vs overseas new hire?
- What do you must prepare (employer eligibility, EOP if required, documents, GIRO, insurance/bond sequencing)?
- Realistic milestones: shortlist → interview → offer → IPA / WP steps → arrival or transfer start.
- What delays are common, and how the agency communicates slips?
Use the Work Permit application employer checklist alongside the agency’s own timeline — do not rely on memory of a verbal “two weeks.”
5. Refund, termination, and early exit
Before you sign, map the unhappy paths:
- You withdraw before placement completes — refund rules by stage.
- Helper withdraws or is medically unfit — replacement vs refund options.
- Early termination after she starts — agency role vs your direct MOM cancellation duties; notice expectations; final salary / ticket responsibilities (confirm against contract and MOM, not hearsay).
- Dispute channel — named contact, escalation path, and what the agency will / will not mediate.
Get refund and termination clauses in the same written summary as the fee table. Verbal “we’ll take care of you” is not a clause.
6. Document checklist before you commit
Ask the agency which of the following they need from you up front, and which documents they will issue or file:
Typically employer-side (confirm for your case):
- ☐ NRIC / identity and employer eligibility proof as the agency specifies
- ☐ Proof related to household needs if relevant to eligibility (e.g. young child / elderly / medical — only if applicable)
- ☐ Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) status if MOM requires it for you
- ☐ GIRO / levy payment setup readiness
- ☐ Insurance and security bond arrangement path
- ☐ Signed service agreement with the EA (fee, guarantee, refund clauses)
Typically agency / process documents to request copies of:
- ☐ Written fee breakdown and refund/replacement terms
- ☐ Helper biodata used for the offer (version-dated)
- ☐ Interview notes or confirmation of agreed salary and rest-day plan
- ☐ Employment contract / key employment terms pathway
- ☐ Work Permit / IPA reference once filed
If something is “standard” but not written, ask them to write it.
7. Platform vs licensed agency — keep roles clear
| SmartMaid (platform) | Licensed EA (agency) | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Search, filter, shortlist biodata; enquire with publishing agencies | Recruitment, placement paperwork, MOM filings, employment contract path |
| Fees | Platform use for shortlisting/enquiry (per live product terms) | Placement / service fees per their written quote |
| Work Permit | Does not apply for you | Coordinates WP process with you as employer |
| Rest day / salary | Helps you compare profiles and prepare questions | Records agreed terms in the employment pathway |
| Guarantee / replacement | Not an agency guarantee | Defined in their service agreement |
Read also How Smart Maid Singapore differs from a maid agency and Working with a maid agency in Singapore: what to expect.
How many helpers to interview before you decide
Agencies can present strong profiles quickly. Still plan a small, deliberate interview set rather than signing after one rushed call. Guidance: How many maids to interview before deciding. Ask the agency how they schedule in-person vs video interviews, and whether biodata availability is reconfirmed before each slot.
FAQ
1. Do I have to use an agency?
Many employers use a licensed EA for matching and MOM paperwork. Confirm current MOM rules for your situation; SmartMaid helps you shortlist across agencies but does not replace a licensed EA’s placement role.
2. Can SmartMaid tell me the “usual” agency fee?
No fixed dollar “market rate” belongs in this guide. Compare written itemised quotes from licensed agencies and ask what is refundable.
3. Transfer helpers are cheaper / faster — true?
Timelines and cost structure often differ from overseas new hires, but outcomes are case-specific. Ask your EA for a side-by-side for your household, and read transfer vs new hire.
4. Should rest days be in writing before I sign the agency package?
Yes — at least agree the discussion process and have the agency confirm how rest-day and salary terms will be locked before deployment. See the rest-days flagship.
5. What if the agency rushes me to pay today?
Pause. Ask for the written fee / refund / guarantee summary first. A short delay to read terms is normal; pressure to skip documents is a red flag.
6. Where do I browse agencies and helpers first?
Maid agencies on Smart Maid · shortlist helpers · then bring this checklist to the EA meeting.
Next steps on SmartMaid
- Browse licensed maid agencies and shortlist helpers that fit your household.
- Decide transfer vs overseas new hire with your timeline in mind.
- Bring the fee, replacement, rest-day/salary, WP, refund, and document questions above to the EA — get answers in writing before you sign.
- Keep compliance references handy: First-time employer guide · Salary & total cost · Work Permit checklist · How many to interview.
This article is general employer guidance only. Fee packages, guarantees, and MOM Work Permit steps vary by case and can change. Confirm details with your licensed employment agency and on mom.gov.sg before you sign or pay.
