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With almost three decades of experience in the employment agency industry, Ms. K Jayaprema has accumulated a wealth of knowledge that includes the practical management of MDWs, MOM regulations and a lot more. Let her share valuable insights that can help you.
Your migrant domestic worker (MDW) may request for home leave during her employment for a break or to attend to some commitments. In such cases, there are two things you should consider first.
To start, ensure that you and your MDW are both comfortable with the days on which she will be away. Try to reach a consensus regarding this.
Next, discuss with her about whether this will be paid or unpaid leave, based on the terms of her employment contract.
For your reference, a common practice by employers is to offer 14 days of paid overseas leave for every two years worked. Some employers choose to pay their employees salary in lieu of leave if the MDW does not wish to use her leave days to go home, though not everyone does this.
Once you two have decided on these, she can get ready for her trip home.
Ensuring that she packs what she needs
Here’s what to do to make her trip home a smoother process for you.
Advise and assist her with her luggage packing. Remind her of the maximum weight allowance and any restrictions on carry-on items. If she risks exceeding the luggage allowance, inform her that it might incur expensive overweight luggage charges and suggest she pack only what's necessary.
Additionally, ensure that she has her valid passport and Singapore work permit on hand, so she can clear immigration checkpoints without a hitch.
It’s advisable to also caution your MDW against helping others carry goods overseas or into Singapore. This could potentially land her in trouble with the customs authorities if the items happen to be illegal.
Should you cancel her work pass for now?
In some cases, MDWs may require an extended period of home leave. In such cases, you may be thinking of cancelling her work permit and then reinstate it upon her return. However, you should consider the costs involved. This could include reapplying for the work permit, insurance fees, and other incidental expenses, which might end up being more costly than maintaining her current permit.
If you don’t cancel her work permit, you can apply for a levy waiver for the period she's away once she returns. Remember to retain a copy of her flight or ferry ticket, as this documentation will be required to substantiate your levy waiver application.
Requirements of her home country
It's also important to take note of the immigration requirements of your MDW's home country, since your MDW needs to submit the necessary paperwork so she can travel out of and back into Singapore without issues. If you're unsure about these requirements, consult the embassy of her home nation or your employment agency (if you’re using one) early to avoid any issues.
This may happen for many reasons. For instance, it could simply be that her Singapore SIM card isn’t working in her home country.
This is why it could be good to save the phone numbers of her friends and relatives back home (with the right country code) while your MDW is still in Singapore. They might know her whereabouts if she ever becomes uncontactable during home leave. You may want to confirm the numbers before your MDW leaves by calling them.
Additionally, if you’ve used an employment agency, it may be able to help you in case you lose contact with your MDW.
What if she decides not to return
If your MDW decides not to return from her home leave due to unforeseen circumstances, try to communicate with her to understand her reasons for not returning on the agreed-upon date and verify if her decision is final. If it is, you should proceed with cancelling her work permit as soon as possible.
If she had left behind any personal belongings in your home, you may also want to check with her to see if someone would be retrieving them on her behalf.
One last point
If your MDW's travel overlaps with her mandatory 6-monthly medical examination, remember to submit a request to postpone the examination until after her return.