Maid Levy MOM

Complete Info Guide to MOM Maid Levy (MDW / Helpers) 2022 Updated

NOTE: Information from this page is taken from Ministry of Manpower (www.mom.gov.sg).

MOM Maid Levy Guide 2022

All MDW(Migrant Domestic Worker) employers who wish to employ a helper in Singapore are required to pay a monthly maid levy to MOM. This levy is a pricing mechanism to regulate the number of foreigners in Singapore.

For first-time helpers, the levy will begin on the 5th day of their arrival (including the arrival date). Otherwise, the levy will begin the next day after the helper arrives.

The levy ends when the Work Permit is cancelled or expires.

Levy rate

The levy rate for helpers is as follows:

Type of levy

Monthly rate

Daily rate

Normal without concession (1st helper)

$300

$9.87

Normal without concession (Subsequent)

$450

$14.80

Concessionary (Please see below)

$60

$1.98

  • The daily levy rate only applies to helpers who did not complete a full calendar month. The daily levy rate is calculated as follows: (Monthly levy rate x 12) / 365 = rounding up to the nearest cent.
  • The concessionary rate applies to families with a young child, elderly member or person with disability. Find out if you qualify for levy concession.
  • If you have more than 1 person in the household that qualifies you for the concessionary rate, the levy rate for a subsequent helper(if required) will also be applied at the concessionary rate ($60/mth)
  • When you are no longer eligible for levy concession or your number of helpers changes, the levy rate may be adjusted. The new rate takes effect immediately.

Payment of Levy (GIRO)

Levy must be paid via GIRO (General Interbank Recurring Order). You can download the GIRO form here. (GIRO application form). GIRO application take approximately 4 weeks to process successfully. In the meantime, if you have been billed by MOM to pay the maid levy, you can pay using the following ways until the GIRO for the maid levy is approved.  

Penalties for not paying levy

  • If you don’t pay the full levy on time, you may face the following penalties:
  • You’ll be charged a late payment penalty of 2% per month or $20, whichever is higher. Your total late payment penalty will be capped at 30% of the outstanding levy.
  • Your helper’s Work Permit will be revoked.
  • You won’t be allowed to apply for or issue a new Work Permit, or renew an existing Work Permit.
  • You may face legal action to recover the unpaid levy.

Levy Concession

As an employer, you can qualify for levy concession if you live with any of the following eligible person who is a Singapore citizen:

  • Young child below 16 years old.
  • Elderly person who is at least 67 years old.
  • Person with disabilities (PWD) – Must be certified by a Singapore-registered doctor to require help with at least 1 activity of daily living (ADL), such as showering, feeding, dressing or toileting.

The levy concession for 1 helper is granted based on 1 eligible person in the household. It is capped at 2 helpers per household. Levy concession is applied automatically if you meet the above requirements, there is no need to apply for it. In the event that is is not automatically applied, or if you have a special reason that you think you would like to apply to MOM for the levy concession, you can do it here (https://form.gov.sg/5b18fbddd1b046001a65ef3c)

Levy Waiver

You can get a waiver for your MDW levy payments only under certain situations. These include overseas leave and hospitalisation leave.

  • Is on overseas leave for at least 7 consecutive days. (Capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year. ) 
  • Is on hospitalisation leave issued by Singapore hospitals. (Capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.)
  • Does not return to Singapore after overseas leave.
  • Is under police custody or is housed at an embassy.
  • Has passed away.

You need to apply online at CPF website. After logging in, choose Application for Waiver of Foreign Worker Levy (Domestic).