Who should pay for the air tickets of the maid?

Friends, air tickets are one of those things nobody thinks about at the interview.
Then two years later... surprise, someone has to pay for a flight.

Here is who pays for which ticket, based on what MOM actually says.

Who pays for the maid's air ticket home in Singapore?

You do.
For Work Permit holders (domestic helpers included), MOM says employers must bear repatriation costs under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations, regardless of the circumstances of contract termination.
The reason MOM gave: so that workers are never left stranded in Singapore with no way home.

MOM's own guide for helpers also says the employer should not deduct the air ticket cost from her salary.

What must I do before buying her flight home?

MOM's checklist for sending a helper home:

• Settle all outstanding issues she raises, including salary.
• Make sure her passport is valid.
• Agree in writing on the transit arrangement (connecting flights, layover hours) before you buy.
• Agree in writing on the allowance she needs during transit.
• Get her to acknowledge in writing the transport payment you made.

The full step-by-step is in our guide: What do I take note of when I send my maid back to her country?

Who pays the air ticket if my maid terminates early or transfers?

Short version: if she is flying home, the current employer pays.
If she is moving to another employer in Singapore, nobody needs to buy a ticket home yet.

Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.

The agency row applies when an agency registered with MOM takes over her upkeep after you cancel the permit. Confirm the terms with your agency in writing first.

Do I have to pay for my maid's home leave ticket?

Only if your contract says so.
MOM does not set a fixed home leave rule for helpers, so it comes down to what you both signed.

• If she is overseas for 7 or more consecutive days, you can apply to MOM for a levy waiver for that period.
• Keep her boarding passes or flight records as proof.

Who pays for a new maid's flight to Singapore?

This one is usually handled through the agency, and it depends on her nationality.

• Indonesian helpers: Indonesia's zero placement fee policy requires employers to bear costs such as air tickets, work visas, medical checks and transport. MOM noted agency fees to employers could rise because of it.
• Filipino helpers: the Philippine contract's employer undertaking says recruitment and deployment costs, including agency placement fees, must not be charged to or recovered from her.
• Other cases: costs incurred overseas may sit inside the placement fee as a personal loan, which you might pay upfront and recover through salary deductions as written in the contract.
• If the Work Permit is not issued after the agency brings her in, the agency bears her repatriation cost under its licence conditions.

Ask your agency for the full fee breakdown.
Singapore law requires agencies to give it to you.
More on this in our guide to placement fees.

Do I have to pay for my maid's excess baggage?

No.
MOM requires the ticket home to include check-in luggage, and it does not set a weight.
The standard allowance depends on the airline and fare you book.

After two years, though, the boxes do pile up.
A few ways to avoid an airport standoff:

How do I keep air ticket costs down?

• Compare fares on sites like Skyscanner before booking.
• Book early, especially around festive periods.
• Choose a direct transfer if she wants to keep working in Singapore. No ticket home needed.
• Agree home leave dates early so you can catch better fares.

P.S. If she offers you the rice cooker she cannot fit in her bag, that is probably cheaper than the excess baggage fee. Probably.