If you employ an MDW to care for an elderly parent, you may qualify for a lower levy. Here is how it works.
Singapore's monthly levy for a first-time foreign domestic worker is currently $300. But if your household includes an elderly person who needs help with daily living, you may be entitled to pay just $60 a month instead. That is a significant saving — and many eligible employers simply do not know it exists.
Who qualifies for the concession
The concessionary levy applies when the MDW is employed primarily to care for a Singapore citizen or permanent resident who is aged 67 or above. The elderly person must live in the same household as the employer. MOM requires that the person being cared for is named as the care recipient in the levy application.
The concession is tied to the care recipient, not to the worker. If your MDW leaves and you hire a replacement for the same purpose, you apply for the concession again with the new worker.
How to apply
Employers apply through the MOM website when they are submitting or renewing the work permit. If you already have an MDW and have not yet claimed the concession, you can submit a separate application. Approval is not automatic — MOM reviews the details before granting it.
Common reasons applications are rejected
The most frequent issue is that the care recipient does not meet the age threshold, or is listed as a permanent resident when only citizens are specified in the particular concession tier. Another common mistake is employers applying for a concession but listing childcare as the primary duty. The levy rate is determined by the stated purpose of employment, so accuracy matters.
What this means in practice
Over a two-year contract, the difference between the standard levy and the concessionary rate is more than $5,700. For households already managing the costs of eldercare, that is a meaningful amount. It can go toward better equipment, therapy, or simply toward paying your MDW fairly for demanding work.
It is also worth remembering that workers providing eldercare often manage physically and emotionally difficult tasks — bathing, mobility assistance, managing medications, responding to confusion or distress. The levy concession exists because the government recognises this is specialised, demanding care. Employers who benefit from it would do well to reflect that in how they treat and compensate their worker.
At Anisya, we help employers understand the full picture before they hire — including what financial support they may be entitled to. If you are exploring your options, our platform is a straightforward place to start.