Oral Answer by Senior Minister of State for Manpower Mr Zaqy Mohamad to PQ on Extent of Employer's Responsibility for MDW's Medical Treatment Fee

NOTICE PAPER NO. 552 OF 2021 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 27 JULY 2021
QUESTION NO. 1426 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Ms Tin Pei Ling

To ask the Minister for Manpower to what extent should an employer be made responsible for a migrant domestic worker's medical fee in Singapore if the treatment needed is a consequence of the worker's own social activity during her personal off-time and on her own free will and the medical fee quantum far exceeds the insurance limits.

Answer

1. Employers are responsible for their Migrant Domestic Workers’ (MDW) medical bills in Singapore, including medical bills incurred due to illnesses and accidents that are not work-related. Employers may repatriate their MDWs after their MDWs are certified fit for discharge and/or fit for flight. 

2. To help employers manage their MDWs’ medical expenses, they are required to purchase medical insurance plans of at least $15,000 a year to pay for inpatient care and day surgery. This is sufficient to cover about 95% of hospital bills incurred by MDWs.  Beyond the mandated coverage, employers can opt for higher coverage from their insurers to better protect themselves against large bills. MOM is reviewing the minimum insurance coverage amount.  Employers who face financial difficulties in paying for their MDWs’ medical bills can also approach medical social workers at the hospitals for assistance. MOM has stepped in to help some MDW employers who face genuine financial difficulty, so that their MDWs could receive appropriate treatment even if their employers were not able to meet their obligations.