Employers with Insufficient Insurance Coverage for Migrant Domestic Workers' Medical and Hospitalisation Bills
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the adequacy of medical insurance for Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) and financial assistance for employers facing high hospitalisation bills. Minister of State Gan Siow Huang noted that mandatory insurance coverage was recently raised from $15,000 to $60,000 to cover an estimated 99% of claims. She advised that employers with insufficient funds should approach medical social workers at public healthcare institutions for assistance. The Minister of State clarified that MediSave cannot be utilized for MDWs' bills to protect its intent for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Furthermore, she explained that the Employer Orientation Programme remains focused on core responsibilities to ensure the course remains concise and targeted.
Transcript
The following question stood in the name of Ms Yeo Wan Ling –
13 To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) in the past five years, how many employers have insufficient medical and accident insurance coverage for their migrant domestic workers (MDWs) to pay for their MDWs' medical and hospitalisation bills; and (b) whether there are avenues of financial support for employers who are unable to pay for their MDWs medical and hospitalisation bills.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Question No 13.
The Minister of State for Manpower (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, employers are responsible for their Migrant Domestic Workers' (MDWs) medical expenses. To support employers in meeting these obligations, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires all employers of Work Permit holders, including MDWs, to purchase medical insurance for their workers.
In the last five years, about 95% of all hospitalisation bills by MDWs fell within $15,000, which was the minimum insurance coverage required before 1 July 2023. MOM has since enhanced the medical insurance requirements for new policies or renewals and this took effect from 1 July 2023. The higher annual claim limit of $60,000 is estimated to cover about 99% of all bills.
We encourage MDW employers to transition to the enhanced medical insurance early, even if their existing medical insurance policy is not due for renewal yet. This will better protect employers against large unforeseen medical bills. Employers who face financial difficulties paying for their MDW's medical bills may approach medical social workers at the public healthcare institutions for assistance.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip Hon Weng.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her reply.
Many Singaporean families rely on foreign domestic workers as key family caregivers, looking after young children, seniors and infirmed members of the family. Over the past year, I have seen a number of cases at my Meet-the-People-Session families who have been caught in medical emergencies with their helpers.
Given that healthcare costs are likely to rise in Singapore and we have more instances of retired and lower-income families dipping into their savings to pay for the unexpected hospitalisation fees for the helpers, could the Ministry consider the use of the employer's MediSave for their helpers? Could the Ministry also consider financial counselling, as a module during the employer's orientation programme?
Ms Gan Siow Huang: I thank hon Mr Yip Hon Weng for the two supplementary questions. On the first one, MediSave is a national saving scheme and it is meant to help Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents set aside part of their income to meet their healthcare needs. We should protect this intent of MediSave.
Individuals will not be able to use MediSave to pay for medical bills incurred by their MDWs who should be covered by the medical insurance mandated by MOM. Employers who face difficulties paying the medical bills of their MDWs despite the insurance coverage may approach medical social workers, which I mentioned earlier on.
On the second question of financial planning to be included in the employers' orientation programme, this is a short programme that has been introduced to educate and also help employers understand their responsibilities towards caring for their MDWs. This includes the requirement for them to purchase medical insurance for the MDWs and also keeping their homes and workplace conditions safe for MDWs, such as the use of the bamboo poles for hanging laundry outside the flats of high-rise buildings.
The intent of this programme is really very targeted and focused. We prefer to keep this course tight, so that employers are able to complete this very important course.
Again, for employers who are unable to meet their obligations of paying for the medical expenses of their migrant domestic workers, we ask that they approach the medical social workers in our public healthcare institutions for advice.