Confinement nanny hiring kit

1The Work Permit, in MOM's words

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) runs a short-term Work Permit for Malaysian confinement nannies. You, the employer, or an employment agent you appoint, apply for it.

• Who she can be: a Malaysian, at least 23 and below 70 years old when you apply.
• Who you must be: at least 21, with a newborn under 4 months old.
• How long: up to 16 weeks from your baby's date of birth. It cannot be renewed, and applying after the birth shortens it.
• When to apply: from 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery, up to 16 weeks after the birth.
• Cost to apply: S$35 per application. MOM says it usually decides within 1 week.
• Monthly levy: S$60 if your newborn is a Singapore citizen, S$300 if not.
• Insurance: you must buy medical insurance for her. MOM's eligibility page sets the minimum cover.
• Where she works: at your home. Basic Work Permit conditions apply; for example, she cannot work for other employers in a different job. There is no minimum salary, and her salary is taxable in Singapore.

2Step by step

• Mid-pregnancyShortlist and interviewCommon practice, not a rule: popular months fill early. Use the questions on page 2.
• Once agreedFill in the agreement on page 2 together and both sign
• Before applyingGet her written consent to apply OfficialAn agent also needs your authorisation in MOM's FDW eService.
• From 4 weeks before due dateApply in the FDW eService and pay S$35 OfficialAdd her start date if she needs to start quickly. Check the status after a week.
• After approvalHave her medical insurance in place, and tell MOM her start date if you have not yet OfficialShe prints her in-principle approval letter to show the immigration officer when she arrives. She gets a Work Permit letter, not a card.
• When she leavesCancel the Work Permit within 1 week of her leaving Singapore OfficialCancel in the FDW eService; the levy stops a day before the cancellation date.

3Before she arrives

• Her room or sleeping space, bedding and a place for her things
• House rules agreed: visitors, shoes, phone use around the baby, quiet hours
• Confinement food plan: who buys the ingredients, and a weekly budget
• Her phone number, and her emergency contact in Malaysia
• Our numbers on the fridge: both parents, the hospital, baby's doctor, 995

1Questions to ask

• How many families have you worked with, and may we speak to one or two of them?
• What does a usual day and night look like when you look after a newborn?
• How do you help with breastfeeding, and how do you support the way we choose to feed?
• Which confinement dishes do you cook, and can you work with our diet, religion or allergies?
• How do you put a baby down to sleep? (Follow your doctor's safe-sleep advice; agree on it now.)
• What do you do if the baby seems unwell, and when would you tell us to call the doctor?
• How do you get on with grandparents, a helper or older children in the home?
• Can you start earlier or later if the baby comes early or late, and what happens to the fee?

2Duties, hours and terms

1In her last week

• Write down baby's usual feed, nap and bath timesThe free Baby Sleep And Feeding Log (raisingangels.sg/tools/sleep-feed-log) keeps them on your phone.
• Ask her to show each parent the bath, nappy change and settling, then watch you do it
• Note the signs she watches for and when she would call the doctor
• Write down any recipes mum wants to keep cooking
• Agree who covers nights and meals from next week

2On her last day

• Pay the balance and any agreed red packet; keep the receipt
• Collect house keys and access cards
• Check her visit pass covers her stay until she leaves OfficialMOM's page explains how to extend her stay if it does not.
• Cancel the Work Permit within 1 week of her leaving Singapore Official
• If she was good, ask whether you may recommend her to friends