Should I hire a Myanmar maid (domestic helper)?

At a Glance

Myanmar's minimum salary guideline for helpers: about S$450 a month
Maid levy: S$300 a month, or S$60 with concession
MOM security bond: S$5,000 per helper
First-timers attend the 1-day Settling-in Programme within 7 days of arrival (from S$76.40)
Helpers must be aged 23 to below 50 with 8 years of formal education

Friends, should you hire a Myanmar helper?

I can only answer from my own home.

Our helper is from Myanmar, and she has been with us for 7 years.

So yes, I'm a little biased... but here are the real costs, the trade-offs and what to check before you decide.

Why do Singapore families hire Myanmar helpers?

S$450

Friendlier Budget

Myanmar's guideline is the lowest of the main source countries (Philippines S$570, Indonesia S$550). Experienced helpers ask for more.

Learn

Willing to Be Trained

Many employers find first-timers open to learning your way of cooking, cleaning and caring for family.

Range

All-Round Duties

Housework, cooking, childcare and elderly care. Experience varies a lot, so check her bio and ask.

Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.

Item	Cost	When
Salary	From ~S$450	Monthly
Maid levy	S$300 / S$60	Monthly (S$450 for a 2nd helper)
Agency fee	S$1,000 - S$3,000	One-off
Work permit	S$35 + S$35	Application + issuance
Settling-in Programme	S$76.40 - S$92.65	First-time helpers only
Security bond	S$5,000	Usually covered by an insurance guarantee
Food, transport, phone	~S$270	Monthly estimate

Sources: MOM levy and SIP pages; Income Insurance helper cost guide (2026). Agency fees vary widely, so compare.

The levy drops to S$60 if you live with a child under 16, someone aged 67 or above, or a certified person with disabilities.

Also budget for the mandatory medical and personal accident insurance.

Every helper is an individual.

You'll hear horror stories and glowing ones about every nationality... so judge the person, not the passport.

That said, these are the common things to plan for:

English Varies

Some first-timers speak basic English. Short sentences, pictures and showing (instead of telling) help a lot in the first months.

Settling-In Time

HDB living, appliances and local food can all be new. Give her 2 to 3 months of patient training before judging.

Cooking Style

She may not know your family's dishes yet. A cooking class or a few weekends cooking together pays off.

Passport Admin

Renewals go through the Myanmar Embassy here by appointment. See our step-by-step guide.

List your needs first. Baby, elderly parent, cooking, pets. Then filter for that experience.
Interview by video. Ask her to describe a normal day at her last job. You'll learn her English and her experience at the same time.
Consider a transfer helper. A helper already in Singapore skips the SIP and knows local homes.
Pick an agency that knows Myanmar placements. A good one explains the paperwork, the loan arrangement and gives support after she arrives.
Be clear on salary and rest days up front. MOM requires at least 1 rest day a month that cannot be compensated with pay.

Write a simple daily schedule and stick it on the fridge.

Show each task once, together. Then let her try.

Have a weekly 10-minute chat on what's going well and what to tweak.

In our home, the first few months were the hardest part.

Seven years later, she knows where everything is... including the things I've lost.

Ready to meet Myanmar helpers?

Browse helper profiles and agencies, all registered in Singapore.

P.S. Our helper's English improved faster than my Burmese. I can say "thank you" now. Seven years. Don't judge.