- Your helper is entitled to 1 rest day per week, on a day you both agree.
- Since 1 Jan 2023, at least 1 rest day a month cannot be paid away. She must take it.
- Work on a rest day only if she agrees, paid at least 1 extra day's salary.
- A rest day can be 1 full day or 2 half days, and she may spend it at home.
- If she is pregnant, MOM must be told: by the clinic at her 6-monthly check, otherwise by you, with a doctor's memo.
- Work Permit conditions bar her from marrying a Singapore citizen or PR without MOM approval.
Friends,
Every employer has a mental list of things they are not sure they are allowed to say.
Can I ask her to work on Sunday?
What if she wants to stay out all night?
And the big one... what about the boyfriend?
I used to Google these at 1am too (and then close the tab, because the forums made it worse).
So here is what MOM actually says, what is your call as a household, and how to talk about the grey areas without becoming the villain of her group chat.
Do I have to give my helper a rest day every week in Singapore?
Yes. MOM says your helper is entitled to one rest day per week, and you must mutually agree which day it is.
Sunday is common, but any day works if you both agree.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Rule | What MOM says |
|---|---|
| Weekly rest day | 1 rest day per week, day agreed by both of you |
| Monthly minimum | At least 1 rest day a month that cannot be compensated away (since 1 Jan 2023) |
| Working a rest day | Only if she agrees; pay at least 1 day's salary on top of her basic salary |
| How it is taken | 1 full day or 2 half days; she may choose to spend it at home |
| Missed month | Can be deferred by up to 1 month (taken by end of the next month) |
| Records | Update her number of rest days in FDW eService after discussing it with her |
Source: MOM, "Rest days, health and well-being for migrant domestic workers", checked 15 Oct 2026. Employers who fail to provide the mandatory rest day may face enforcement action.
Can my helper stay out overnight on her rest day?
MOM's rest day guidance sets no curfew and no overnight rule.
So this one is a household decision.
She is an adult, and her rest day is hers.
Can my helper have a boyfriend in Singapore?
Having a relationship is her personal life.
What you control is your home.
- Your call: visitors in your home, and whether guests may come in when you are out.
- Her call: who she meets and dates on her own time.
- MOM's rule: her Work Permit conditions say she must not marry a Singapore citizen or PR, in or outside Singapore, without prior MOM approval. This applies even after the permit ends.
If she raises marriage plans with a local partner, point her to MOM before anything is booked.
What happens if my helper gets pregnant in Singapore?
Under Work Permit conditions, a helper must not become pregnant or deliver a child in Singapore, unless she is married to a Singapore citizen or PR with MOM's approval.
MOM also spells out who must report it.
After that, MOM will contact you on next steps.
She will be scared.
Keep the conversation calm, private and kind. How you treat her that week is what she remembers.
How do I set house rules for my helper without being harsh?
The best way to avoid awkward talks later is to hire someone whose lifestyle already fits your home.
Ask about rest day plans at the interview. You know what to do.
Browse profiles and talk to helpers directly before you hire.
Browse SearchmaidHappy hiring, Friends.
Ray
P.S. Before you set a curfew, check what time you got home last Saturday. Fair rules are easier to keep when they would pass your own test.
Information correct as of 15 Oct 2026, based on MOM's rest day and "notify MOM of changes" pages for migrant domestic workers. Check MOM's rest day guide and MOM's notify page for the latest rules.
