4 Things to Consider Before Hiring a Maid During COVID-19

[Published on 29 Nov 2020]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change the way we live our daily lives, it has become more challenging and risky to continue doing what we have been normally doing. To adapt to the “new normal”, we have had to change a number of things in our lives, from the way we buy our necessities to how we educate our children. Most homemakers, parents and heads of the family have taken additional responsibilities into their own hands.

But handling too many tasks on your own can be very taxing, especially if you have young kids or elderlies at home who require a lot of care and attention. To help you accomplish more things for your family and at work, you might want to consider hiring a maid in Singapore which is considered one of the most affordable as compared to other countries like in Hong Kong, Taiwan, America, Canada or even in Europe. To make sure that you are not risking your and your family’s safety, here are some things you should take into account before hiring a maid during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. Government regulations
The government is slowly lifting a number of restrictions and allowing certain business operations to resume, you can now consider hiring a foreign domestic helper to work as your maid. But for you and your family’s safety, it’s still important that you strictly follow the precautionary measures mandated by the government. Whether you are thinking about hiring a new maid or rehiring the one that you previously employed but is now back in her country, you should see to it that she understands, agrees with and strictly follows the 14-day Stay-Home-Notice (SHN). This is a requirement before she is allowed to enter Singapore.

Additionally, the Ministry of Manpower also requires employers to fulfill their additional responsibilities before bringing in their domestic helper. These responsibilities include paying for her COVID-19 test ($200) and her stay at the dedicated Stay-Home Notice (SHN) facility ($1,500). Employers should also see to it that their domestic helper has a Singapore mobile number, with internet connection and WhatsApp installed. The Ministry of Manpower provides more details about the process every employer must follow when bringing in foreign domestic helpers to Singapore.

2. Health checks and personal care
Your and your family’s health should always be your top priority. To make sure that your family and your foreign domestic helper are in perfect health condition, see to it that you all go through required health checks, if applicable, take care of your health by eating healthy meals and following the basic safety measures during the pandemic. This involves social distancing, wearing face shields and face masks when going outside the house and exercising. Remind your house maid regularly to always maintain cleanliness and for them to take good care of their health, too.

3. Personal protective materials
Once you have your foreign domestic helper with you in Singapore, see to it that you provide her with all the work tools and protective gear that she needs to be able to work efficiently for you. Face masks and face shields are important. She should also have gloves, cleaning tools and other materials that she will need to stay safe while working. Moreover, see to it that you provide her with a steady supply of cleaning materials so that she can help you maintain cleanliness in your home, such as disinfectants, alcohol, antibacterial soaps, and the like. This way, you can rest assured that she is doing her best in keeping your house clean, while at the same time, staying safe, too.

4. Cleanliness and personal hygiene
Keeping your house clean is important. But apart from cleaning your home, you should also see to it that your maid takes care of her own hygiene. Make it a requirement for your maid to constantly keep herself clean at all times. See to it that she also properly maintains her own room and all of her personal belongings are properly organized. You should also set a regular cleaning schedule that she needs to follow, especially if there are lots of rooms and places to clean at your home.

If you already have a cleaning process or organization setup in place, see to it that she knows it so that she can help you maintain your home as per your expectations. If she will be taking care of your children or your elderly family members while you are working, make sure that she knows how to keep them clean as well.

As we continue to live in a world that has been greatly changed by a global pandemic, we should now get used to prioritising our health and safety, as well as of the people who live with us. This includes your live-in house maid. By making sure that they understand the value of personal health and hygiene, cleanliness at home, as well as social distancing, then you can be more at ease with the health and safety of your family.

Ready to hire a maid in Singapore today? Do contact us at 6735 3456 and we will be more than happy to assist you!

[Latest Update 28-Feb-2021] The costs to pay to our Government to bring a helper in from overseas now requires additional testing such as $250 for 2x PCR Covid Tests upon arrival and on the last day of quarantine. Also the need for a Serology Test upon arrival which costs $50.