Sign an employment contract as well as a safety agreement with your foreign domestic worker (FDW).
The Employment Act does not cover foreign domestic workers due to it is not practical to regulate a particular area of domestic work like; work hours and work on public holidays.
As the case may be, we urge you to go into a signed employment contract with your FDW to avoid disputes. Before your FDW begins to work with you, you both must sign a safety agreement.
Employment contract
You and your FDW should mutually agree to the terms and conditions of your employment.
As an employer, endeavor to cover all of the following:
- Compensation in respect of the rest day
- Notice period
- Compensation when notice is terminated
- Salary
- Number of rest days for each month
- Placement loan
You can ask your placement agency to draft an employment contract for your FDW and you.
Termination of an employment contract
As circumstances are variable, early termination is permitted to keep flexibility for you and your FDW.
Either your FDW or you, have the power to dissolve the employment contract. That must be done by giving the notice period stated in the employment contract. The party terminating the employment must have to pay salary instead of notice if it’s not possible to give the notice period. By mutual consent, the notice period can be ignored.
Agreement on safety
Your employment agency will have to arrange for you and your FDW to sign a safety agreement especially if she’s hired for the first time or transferred.
The purpose of the agreement is to make sure that the two of you have an understanding of MOM’s restrictions for cleaning the window exterior.
If you’re renewing your present FDW’s contract, you may not necessarily sign a safety agreement.
When to sign
Know when to sign the safety agreement by referring to the table below
If your FDW is | Sign the agreement |
A first-time FDW | After the FDW has gone through the settling-in programme and before she begins work at your home. |
A transfer FDW | Prior the FDW is sent to you. |
What does it cover? The safety agreement:
- States that, your prerequisite for window cleaning will comply with our regulations.
- Includes the FDW’s understanding of your perquisite on window cleaning.
- Lists out the limitations on cleaning the window exteriors.
To ensure that your FDW fully understands and acknowledges the agreement, her signed copy will be in her local language.
Three parties will be part of the agreement: you, FDW and the employment agency. Each of you should have a copy of the agreement.