First batch of 51 employers get maid grant

THE first batch of 51 families will receive a government grant to help them offset the costs of hiring a maid to take care of frail, elderly, or disabled family members.

They will get the grant of $120 a month from November.

The government stipend comes from the Foreign Domestic Worker Grant, expected to cost $25 million over the next five years. More than 6,000 middle- and low-income families are expected to receive the grant.

Employers generally pay their maids a monthly salary of $400 to $450, as well as a monthly levy of $265 to the Government.