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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.
The first thing to do is to ensure they're properly licensed with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
To do so, make sure that you only work with agencies listed on the EA Directory. The directory also lists the names and photos of registered EA personnel, who are the only people you should deal with. EA personnel are required to show their registration cards to you, so don’t worry about asking for them.
How to pick an agency
Next, let’s talk about how to pick a reliable agency.
- Make sure to look at key indicators of performance, like successful retention rate.
- Speak to them and ensure that they will take time to understand your needs before recommending helpers .
- Ask about how they screen and match helpers to be certain that they follow a process.
- Request for the helper’s detailed biodata and employment history. Reliable agencies provide these.
- Check if they offer post-placement support to both employers and workers.
- If your family has specific caregiving needs, ask if they can identify the specific skills needed, like caring for seniors. Also ask how they have verified whether the helper has the skills.
Here’s an additional tip. Select an EA who has a service agreement that spells out the terms of engagement clearly and includes guarantee, replacement, termination, and refund clauses. Their fee policies should be transparent.
At the end of the day, you want an EA that prioritises quality service. An experienced, reputable agency that takes a consultative approach is more likely to make your hiring experience a successful one.