Open special maid placement scheme to all employers

The Advance Placement Scheme (APS) for foreign domestic workers, a pilot started in August 2016, has been in place for almost two years.

It was proposed by the employment agency industry to enable faster placement and better matching of foreign domestic workers (FDWs). It allows employers to conduct face-to-face interviews with prospective FDWs to facilitate a better match.

As the FDWs are already in Singapore, they can be quickly deployed to the households.

Currently, FDWs under the APS scheme can be deployed only to employers under the concessionary levy scheme.

As stated on the Manpower Ministry (MOM) website, an employer of an FDW may be eligible for the concessionary levy rate of $60 per month under any of these schemes:

- Young child or grandchild scheme

- Aged person scheme

- Persons with disabilities scheme; for persons with medical conditions who need help with at least one activity of daily living

As FDWs under the APS have a higher successful matching rate, the MOM should open this scheme to all employers.

Employers who are not under the concessionary levy scheme may have urgent need for domestic help as well. Shouldn't they, who pay a higher levy, enjoy a scheme that can give them a higher matching rate as well?

I appeal to the MOM to consider the needs of these employers too.

Ng Sout San

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