• General Guidelines

General Guidelines for Indian Maids/Workers Seeking Employment in Singapore

          These guidelines apply to Work Permit holders i.e. those employed at a salary of S$2000 or less, and not to employment pass holders.

          To obtain employment as a maid or blue collar worker in Singapore, you must be below 50 years of age and in good health. You will be subjected to a detailed medical examination after arrival in Singapore and will also have to undergo periodic medical tests.

          Please ensure that your prospective employer or the agent handling your case has obtained a work permit for you (with the approval of the Singapore Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore Immigration) before you come to Singapore, otherwise you may be charged with illegal entry into this country.

          In case you want a job transfer (change of employer or company), this has to be done with the consent in writing of your current employer and with the approval of the Ministry of Manpower (who should be approached on your behalf by your new employer or by your agent).

          Please also note that you are not allowed to marry or stay back in Singapore after your employment contract is over.

          As it the responsibility of the employer to keep his or her employees' documents in personal custody and to return the same to them only when they are to leave Singapore, the High Commission will hold the employer responsible for the loss of an employee's passport. The High Commission will not accept any statement to the effect that blame for losing the passport lies with anyone else other than the employer, and will hold the employer responsible for payment of fees charged for the issue of a duplicate passport. (Click for information on how to apply for a duplicate passport, fees etc.) Waiver of relevant fees will be considered only if the employer can provide written proof of personal bankruptcy (in the case of a company, all shareholders will have to prove personal bankruptcy).

          Employers may please note that many of the maids who are brought from India are untrained. Many of them also find it difficult to adjust either physically or mentally, to working in an alien environment. Many disputes occur because of unrealistic expectations on one side or the other. Hence it is always better to get a maid from India through a recognised maid agency, so that someone can be held accountable in case you are not satisfied with her services.

Important: Please do not make false accusations against your employer/ employee. This is frowned upon by the Singapore authorities who can take severe action, even to the extent of sending the person making the false accusation to jail.

          Please also note that the Indian High Commission cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the Government of Singapore, nor can it take any concrete action in matters between you and your employer, or when any Singapore law is violated. If there is no progress on your case after repeated attempts to obtain redress, we can mediate with your employer or with the Singapore authorities in an attempt to persuade them to take proper action on your complaint, but we cannot dictate to either party nor can we push your case beyond a certain point. We would therefore request that all employers and their employees be considerate of each other's rights. If a misunderstanding does arise, please try to understand each other's position and reach an amicable solution. Also note that you can always approach a lawyer to file a case in the Singapore courts if you feel that you have been denied justice. (Click on the relevant head below for information on how to obtain redress in case of

• III-treatment by the employer

• Reporting or searching for a missing worker

• Non-payment of wages

• Industrial accident compensation

Ill-treatment by the employer
          All cases where the employee is beaten, threatened, abused or otherwise ill-treated by the employer must be reported first to the local police and the Ministry of Manpower. This also holds good where the employer is aggrieved due to theft, misbehaviour, failure to report back by the worker of maid etc.

          The Ministry of Manpower is located at 18, Havelock Road, which is about 3 kms from the Indian High Commission. From Orchard Road one can take Bus Number 143. Please contact the reception at the Ministry of Manpower who will direct you further.

          When filing a police report, it is best to go the police station under whose jurisdiction your place of employment/residence falls.

          The agent who brought the employee to Singapore must always be formally informed of such action (give copies of the complaint to the agent, especially if it is suspected that he or she is in connivance with the employer).

          Where the case is one of assault, keep copies of all medical records and produce them when filing a complaint.( In order to strengthen your case, you must obtain a medical report as soon as the assault takes place. Any delay will weaken the evidence and weaken your case).

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Reporting (or searching for) a missing worker
          To search for a missing person, or to report a missing employee, please go to the Singapore Immigration (Field Division), at No: 10, Kallang Road, Singapore. Please also keep the local police station and the Ministry of Manpower informed in writing. Please note that the High Commission has no facilities to help in such cases.

          The Indian High Commission is also not able to house workers who have run away from their employer. In such cases, if the agent who brought you to Singapore does not help, you may contact any one of the following agencies:

Good Shepherd Centre,
Block 250, Yishun Av-9
# 01-213, Singapore-760250
Tel: 67556496
Fax: 67520670
Contact: Sister Rosaline

Kallang Care Centre
Tel: 63465459

East Coast Care Centre
Tel: 63464939

Star Shelter
Tel: 68370611

SINDA
Tel: 62985911/ 63937260

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Non-payment of wages

• In case of non-payment or incomplete payment of wages, a neatly written, preferably typewritten complaint must be made to the Ministry of Manpower with all documentary evidence. One copy of the written complaint (with a stamp showing that the Ministry has received it) must be kept with the worker for future reference.

• All complaints regarding non-payment of wages must be made within six months of the date of non-payment. The Ministry of Manpower will not act upon any complaint made after this date.

• The Indian High Commission can intercede on your behalf only if your repeated written requests to the Singapore authorities (MOM) have failed to elicit the desired response. Please also note that the High Commission can only request the Ministry to take action and cannot interfere in the Ministry's internal working

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To claim compensation in case of an Industrial Accident

• File your application for Workmen's Compensation using the Claimant Application Form, which can be obtained from the Ministry of Manpower.

• Attach the following documents with your application:

• Medical records of the claimant indicating the injury sustained, treatment etc.

  • Hospital appointment card

  • Written statement of the claimant (if he is not dead or too seriously injured to give a statement)

  • A written statement from a witness who will be prepared to testify if necessary

• Please ensure that you clearly mention your complete address in India on your form. Many compensation cheques are returned undelivered due to the fact that the address is not clearly mentioned in the records. This is very important.

• Your claim for compensation must be filed within one year of the occurrence of the accident.

• You may file your accident claim application at the address mentioned below:

The Commissioner of Manpower
18, Havelock Road,
# 04-01, Singapore- 059764
Tel: 65395213
Fax: 6539 5220