Proposed Short-term Work Permits to Allow Households to Temporarily Hire Additional Migrant Domestic Worker

52 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry can consider granting short-term work permits to allow households to temporarily employ an additional migrant domestic worker (MDW) over an interim period when their current MDW returns to their home country for an extended period of time.

Dr Tan See Leng: Households are eligible to employ a second migrant domestic worker (MDW) if they have caregiving needs and have the requisite financial ability. They are free to mutually agree with the MDW on an employment period that is shorter than the work permit validity of two years. Households that need interim help while their MDWs are on extended home leave may also consider tapping on the Household Services Scheme, which offers domestic, child-minding and elder-minding services on part-time and short-term basis.