- Ends in the first 6 months? Your agency must refund at least 50% of your service fees (contracts signed from 1 June 2022)
- Tell the agency before you cancel, transfer or send her home, or you can lose that refund
- She cannot transfer to a new employer without your consent
- Cancel her Work Permit within 1 week of her last day of work
- If she goes home, you pay the ticket, and she must fly within 2 weeks of cancellation
- Refunds stop after the 3rd replacement helper from the same agency
Alvin had high hopes when Siti joined his family.
One month in, she dropped the bombshell.
"Sir, I want to go back to agency."
If you're reading this, you've probably heard the same sentence. Take a breath. You have more options (and more protection) than you think.
Why Does My New Helper Want to Go Back to the Agency?
Sit down with her first. Calmly. Some problems can be fixed over one cup of kopi.
Communication gaps and personality clashes are common too. Once you know the real reason, you can decide whether to fix it or move on.
Can My Helper Leave Without My Permission?
She can resign and go home. She cannot switch to another employer in Singapore on her own.
MOM says an employer's consent is required before a helper can be transferred.
So you hold the key decision: transfer her, or end the job and send her home.
What Are My Options If My Maid Wants to Leave?
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Option | What happens | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Talk it out | Adjust duties, rest or phone rules. Ask the agency to mediate. | Small, fixable issues |
| 2. Return to agency | Agency finds her a new employer. You claim a refund or a replacement. | Most first-6-month cases |
| 3. Direct transfer | You give consent and a new employer takes her over via MOM. | When you already know a willing employer |
| 4. Send her home | Cancel the Work Permit and buy her ticket home. | When trust has broken down |
Whichever you pick, tell your agency first. More on why below.
Will the Agency Refund My Fees?
Usually, yes, if it happens early.
Under Rule 13A of the Employment Agencies Rules, agencies must refund at least 50% of your service fees if her employment ends within the first six months. It covers agency contracts signed on or after 1 June 2022.
MOM also says agencies should not set their own extra conditions for the refund.
You lose the refund if:
- The agency only did admin work and no matching
- You broke employment law or committed an offence against her
- You cancelled, transferred or sent her home before telling the agency
- You already had up to 2 replacements and one lasted over 6 months, or a 3rd replacement was given
- She was hired as a caregiver (stated in the agreement) and care is no longer needed
Refund or Replacement: Which Should I Take?
Many agencies offer a free replacement helper instead. Check your contract for what's on offer.
MOM's own examples show how replacements affect the refund:
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Scenario | Refund? |
|---|---|
| 1st helper leaves at 3 months | ✓ Yes |
| 3 months, then 1st replacement lasts 8 months | ✕ No |
| Helper + 2 replacements, each 3 months | ✓ Yes |
| A 3rd replacement is provided | ✕ No |
How Do I Send My Helper Home Properly?
- Once cancelled, she cannot work, even while waiting to fly
- Levy stops 1 day before cancellation
- Your $5,000 security bond is usually discharged about 1 week after she leaves
- Cut the old Work Permit card in half after cancelling
Can I Warn Future Employers About Her?
MOM shows prospective employers a helper's past job scope and reasons for leaving.
That includes whether she chose to end the job or the employer did.
You can also leave your contact details through MOM's employer reference channel, so the next family can call you for honest feedback. Keep it fair. She deserves a fresh start too.
How Do I Avoid This With My Next Helper?
- Be upfront at interview. Describe the real job: number of kids, elderly care, house size, cooking.
- Read her employment history. Check her reasons for leaving past Singapore employers.
- Call her last employer if they left a reference.
- Settle her in gently. Clear routines, reasonable phone time, proper rest days.
- Check in weekly for the first month. Small grumbles are easier to fix than big ones.
For Alvin, one month in meant he was well inside the 6-month refund window.
The smart move: tell the agency first, claim the refund or replacement, and be extra clear about the job scope next time.
P.S. If your helper says she wants to "go back agency" on day one, check that she isn't just asking for the agency's WiFi password.
