- A helper suits homes with young kids, elderly parents or a disabled family member and no one free to cover the day
- She may work only at the address on her Work Permit
- Using her for your business can cost up to $10,000 and a ban from hiring
- Levy is $300 a month, or $60 with a concession
- Full-day infant care at anchor preschools is capped at $1,235 a month before subsidy
- Eldercare day care starts from $55 a session before subsidies
Friends, this is a big one.
A helper can give a busy Singapore home its evenings back.
She also moves into your home, and you become her employer under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
So before you start browsing profiles, check that a live-in helper fits what your household needs... and what the law lets her do.
Do I Really Need a Live-In Helper?
Families usually hire for one of these reasons:
- Both parents work full time and someone needs to be home for the kids
- A newborn is coming and the night feeds are already a worry
- An ageing parent needs help moving around, eating or taking medicine
- A family member with a disability needs daily support
- A parent is studying on top of work and family
- Chores cause fights and nobody has the energy left to cook
If your need is mainly a clean flat once a week, a live-in helper is likely more than you need. Jump to the alternatives below.
What Can a Maid Do in Singapore?
Plenty, as long as it is household work in your home.
What Is a Maid Not Allowed to Do?
Her Work Permit ties her to one employer and one address.
Kind families slip up here most, usually with a "just this once".
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Situation | Allowed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking and cleaning at home | ✓ Yes | Household work at her registered address |
| Cleaning your parents' flat | ✕ No | Different address from her Work Permit |
| Helping at your shop or office | ✕ No | Commercial work for your business |
| Packing orders for your home bakery | ✕ No | Still business work, even inside your home |
| Part-time jobs for others | ✕ No | She works for her employer only |
The other employer duties, from rest days to her passport, are set out on the MOM website, so read them before you sign.
Who Can Hire a Maid in Singapore?
MOM says the employer must:
- Be 21 years old or above
- Not be an undischarged bankrupt
- Have the mental capacity to carry out an employer's duties
MOM also looks at your care needs and whether you can afford a helper. Single applicants need a steady income.
How Much Does a Maid Cost Compared With Other Options?
Salary, levy, insurance and agency fees add up. We keep the full numbers in one place: Cost of Hiring a Maid in Singapore: Full 2026 Breakdown.
Here is how the main alternatives price out:
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Option | Typical price | Good for | Gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live-in helper | Salary + $300 levy ($60 with concession) | Many needs under one roof, early mornings and evenings | Needs a room, less privacy, employer duties |
| Part-time cleaner | About $25 to $35 an hour (reported) | Weekly cleaning, couples, small flats | No childcare or eldercare |
| Infant care | Capped at $1,235 (anchor) or $1,290 (partner) a month | Babies on weekdays, trained staff | Fixed hours, sick days at home |
| Childcare | Capped at $610 (anchor) or $650 (partner) a month | Pre-schoolers, learning with other kids | No help with chores or meals |
| Eldercare day care | From $55 a session ($63 dementia care) | Seniors who enjoy company and activities | Daytime only, transport extra |
Preschool caps are ECDA figures for Singapore Citizen children from 1 Jan 2026, before GST and subsidies. Eldercare prices are AIC figures before government subsidies. Cleaner rates are as reported for the MOM Household Services Scheme.
What Are the Downsides of Hiring a Helper?
On r/askSingapore, privacy comes up again and again as the reason families skip a helper.
Other things to weigh:
- Space. She needs a safe, private place to sleep, and never a shared room with an adult male or teenage boy.
- Rest days. At least 1 rest day a month must be taken, not paid off.
- Insurance. Medical cover of at least $60,000 a year.
- Training time. Even an experienced helper needs weeks to learn your home.
- Commitment. Contracts usually run two years, so respect and patience on both sides matter.
Should I Hire Through an Agency or Direct?
Is Hiring a Maid Right for My Household? A Checklist
Tick the ones that apply. Four or more, and a live-in helper is worth a serious look.
- ☐ We have a child under school age, a senior, or a family member with a disability at home
- ☐ No adult is home on most weekdays
- ☐ We need help before 8am or after 7pm, when centres are closed
- ☐ We have a private space for her to sleep
- ☐ We can budget for salary, levy, insurance and her food every month
- ☐ All the work she would do is at our own address, with no business tasks
- ☐ We are fine giving up some privacy
- ☐ We have time to train her in the first few weeks
Ticked only one or two? A part-time cleaner plus infant care or day care may cover you for less.
Final Thoughts
A good helper can change how your home runs.
Start with your real needs, keep her work inside your four walls, and you know what to do.
Ready to find your helper?
Browse helpers from licensed agencies across Singapore.
Browse SearchmaidP.S. "Just help Mum for an hour" is the most expensive favour in this article. Up to $10,000 expensive.
