- Long-serving helpers stay when pay is on time, rest days are real and they feel respected at home.
- In MOM's 2021 study, over 99% of helpers were satisfied working in Singapore and over 80% planned to keep working here.
- 85% of employers were satisfied with their helper and 70% planned to renew her contract.
- CDE trained over 370 helpers in dementia, elderly, infant care and first aid pilot courses (reported June 2026).
- FAST and AEAS run annual awards that honour outstanding helpers and employers, including a Long Service Award.
- When she finally goes home, MOM requires you to pay her air ticket (with check-in luggage) and settle all salary owed.
Friends, some helpers stay one contract.
Some stay ten years and watch your kids grow taller than them.
This article is about the second kind... how to keep her, how to thank her properly, and how to send her home well when the day comes.
What makes a domestic helper stay with one family for years?
MOM surveyed helpers and employers in 2021.
The numbers point to the basics done consistently.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| What helpers reported | 2021 | Earlier study (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfied working and living in Singapore | Over 99% | 97% |
| Salary received on time | About 99% | 97% |
| Satisfied with emotional support | 99% | 93% |
| Satisfied with accommodation | 99% | 94% |
| At least one rest day a month | Over 93% | 98% |
| Intend to keep working in Singapore | Over 80% | 78% |
Source: MOM, MDW and MDW Employer Study 2021 (press release, 8 June 2022).
Read together, the helpers who stay tend to have:
- Salary paid on the same day every month, without reminders.
- Rest days she can count on, plus a phone and the freedom to call home.
- A proper room, enough food and someone at home she can talk to.
- Clear house rules that stay the same from year to year.
How can I show appreciation to my long-serving helper?
Thank-you notes are lovely.
The gestures that last usually help her own future too.
What training can my helper take with CDE in Singapore?
The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) ran four caregiving pilot programmes and had trained over 370 helpers by June 2026, according to The Straits Times.
- Dementia care
- Elderly care
- Infant care
- First aid
One helper featured, Priyanti, had cared for the same employer for 14 years.
She took the dementia course after her elderly employer started showing signs of memory loss, and learned how to calm her when she was upset.
Training like this helps your family and adds to her skills when she eventually goes home.
Are there awards for long-serving domestic helpers in Singapore?
Yes.
Award names and nomination dates change yearly. Check FAST's and AEAS's channels for the current round.
How do I help my helper plan for retirement and going home?
Madam Ng put it simply: "Long term planning is very important: you have to think of her retirement plan."
A few ways to help, years before the last day:
- Ask what she wants to go home to: a small business, a house, her children's education.
- Encourage regular savings in her own name, and let her decide how.
- Support courses that could earn her a living back home.
- Agree on a rough timeline together so neither side is caught off guard.
Sometimes the day comes suddenly.
Robina "Bhing" Navato worked in Singapore for 28 years, wrote for anthologies such as Our Homes, Our Stories and volunteered at HOME's helpdesk.
She returned to the Philippines in 2023 for cervical cancer treatment.
Her story is a reminder to plan early.
When she leaves for good, MOM sets out what you must do:
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Step | What MOM requires |
|---|---|
| Settle what is owed | Settle all outstanding employment issues she raises, including salary. |
| Passport | Make sure she has a valid passport. |
| Agree in writing | Transit arrangements and transit allowance, before buying the ticket. |
| Air ticket | You pay, including check-in luggage and connecting transport to the port nearest her hometown. |
| Departure date | Within 2 weeks of the Work Permit cancellation. |
Source: MOM, "Sending a migrant domestic worker (MDW) home". Check the page for the latest steps.
How do I find a helper who could stay for years?
Long partnerships start with a good match.
Be honest at interview about the household, the hours and the people she will care for.
Ask candidates how long they stayed with past employers and why they left.
Looking for a helper who becomes part of the family?
Browse candidates from many Singapore agencies in one place.
Browse SearchmaidP.S. Our Myanmar helper has been with us 7 years now. The kids ask her where things are before they ask me... which says everything about who really runs the house.
