Employer's Guide to Caregiver Hiring

There are a few components making up the monthly costs for families looking to hire a live-in caregiver.

A live-in caregiver is engaged on a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) work permit.

READ: Who is a Live-in Caregiver? 

Monthly Basic Salary

The monthly basic salary does not include working on Sundays. For a first-time domestic helper, typically, it ranges between $450 - $600.

For live-in caregivers with caregiving qualifications or experience, families can expect to pay slightly more, ranging between $580 - $1000.

READ: Maid vs Caregiver - 4 Key Differences and 4 Hiring Considerations

READ : Who is a Certified Caregiver? Types of Qualifications and Things to Look Out for

Compensation for Work on Sundays

An FDW is entitled to a weekly rest day.

If an FDW agrees to work on her rest day, the employer must compensate her with either at least 1 day’s salary in addition to her monthly basic salary or a replacement rest day.

The calculation for 1 day’s salary can be derived by dividing her monthly salary by 26 working days.

TOOL: FDW Rest Day Pay Calculator

Food and Accommodation

FDW employers are required to provide her with adequate food and accommodation.

Accommodation would include adequate shelter, basic amenities like mattress, pillow, blanket, bathroom amenities and toiletries. Examples of toiletries include soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste.

READ: What are the Food and Accommodation that Employers need to provide

Medical Care

FDW employers are required to provide for the cost of any medical care, including hospitalisation, and provide her with medical and personal accident insurance.

FDW Levy

FDW employer have to pay a monthly foreign worker levy. It is $300 for the first FDW hired in the household and $450 for subsequent FDWs.

There is a concessionary levy of $60 for households with:

• A Singaporean citizen who is at least 67 years old; or
• A Singaporean citizen who is a person with disabilities (PWD) (needs to be certified by Singapore-registered doctor to require help with at least 1 activity of daily living (ADL), such as showering, feeding, dressing or toileting); or
• A Singaporean citizen and is staying with a parent, parent-in-law, grandparent or grandparent-in-law who is a Singapore permanent resident and is at least 67 years old.

1 eligible person in the household would grant a levy concession for 1 FDW. There is a maximum of 2 FDWs per household for the levy concession.

Illustrative Example

The following is an example of breakdown of the monthly costs based on estimates for a family with a live-in caregiver. Please note that this is for illustrative purposes only.

Families may use our Monthly Live-in Care Cost Calculator to calculate their potential monthly costs.

TOOL: Monthly Live-in Care Cost Calculator

READ: What are the Grants I can Apply for for Caregiving?