Inclusion of Other Relatives under Sponsorship Scheme for Seniors with No Children or Siblings to Hire Migrant Domestic Workers

31 Ms Carrie Tan asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry will consider including other relatives under the Sponsorship Scheme for seniors with no children or siblings and are in urgent need of hiring a migrant domestic worker due to their declining health; (b) if so, what are the documents needed; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider an expedited approval process for such cases.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Sponsorship Scheme allows for senior citizens who are 60 years old and above, not earning an income and not staying with any working adults, to hire a migrant domestic worker (MDW) based on the income of up to two sponsors. The sponsor(s) and the elderly employer are jointly responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and well-being of the MDW. In view of these obligations, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires the sponsor to have a direct familial relationship with the senior, such as being the senior’s child, grandchild or sibling.

Nonetheless, we recognise that there will be instances where the senior citizen has no such family members. MOM allows other family members to be the sponsor on a case-by-case basis. MOM will ask for information that explains his or her circumstances and his or her relationship with the sponsor. If the senior citizen requires the MDW urgently, MOM will expedite the approval process.