Yes — but there are rules, costs, and conversations you need to get right first.
School holidays are here, and many Singapore families are planning trips. Some want to bring their domestic worker along. It is a reasonable idea — especially for families with young children or elderly parents who need consistent care. But the answer is not simply yes or no. It depends on where you are going, what you are asking, and whether you have had an honest conversation about it.
It is legal, but consent matters
There is no law that stops an employer from bringing their MDW on holiday. MOM does not prohibit it. But your worker is not obligated to go. She has the right to use her rest days as she chooses — and travel changes that significantly. A holiday abroad is not a rest day. It is work in a different location.
Before you book anything, ask her directly. Not in a way that makes refusal feel impossible. Make clear that saying no is a real option. Some workers welcome the chance to travel. Others have personal plans, family calls, or simply need time alone. Both are valid.
Who pays for what
This is where things get murky. MOM's position is that employers must not make workers bear costs that arise from the employer's decisions. Bringing your MDW on a trip is your decision. That means flights, accommodation, meals, and any visa fees should be covered by you — not deducted from her salary.
Visa requirements vary by destination. Filipino workers, for example, need to check POEA rules before travelling to certain countries. Indonesian workers may need documentation from their embassy. These requirements are real and take time to sort. Build that into your planning, not as an afterthought.
Working hours still apply
On holiday, your worker is still working. If she is caring for your children while you sightsee, that is working time. If she has genuinely free time — no responsibilities, no children to watch — that is rest time. The line matters. A trip where she works from 6am to 10pm with no break is not a perk. It is an unusually demanding work week in an unfamiliar place.
A clear conversation before you leave — about what the days will look like, when she will have time off, and what happens if something goes wrong — protects everyone.
A practical checklist
Before the trip: confirm she wants to go, check visa requirements for her nationality, cover all travel costs, align on working hours and rest time.
During the trip: keep her passport accessible to her, not locked away, and ensure she has a local contact or emergency number.
Anisya exists to make the employer-worker relationship clearer and fairer from day one. If you are thinking through the practicalities of a good working arrangement — at home or abroad — start here.