Outlined here are the steps to terminate your Foreign Domestic Worker’s (FDW) Work Permit in Singapore. There are two primary methods: either independently canceling the FDW’s Work Permit or seeking assistance from the employment agency through which you hired your maid.

Before initiating the cancellation process, several considerations must be addressed:

1. Provide your maid with sufficient notice (typically up to 1 month) and mutually agree upon the final day of work.
2. Settle all outstanding salary on the last working day. Ensure your maid acknowledges receipt of the correct amount by signing the salary schedule form.
3. Confirm the validity of your maid’s passport before booking her air ticket.
4. Research the most economical air ticket to her country of origin, closest to her hometown. Remember, it’s your responsibility to purchase a one-way air ticket for her, as coercing her to pay for her own ticket is illegal. Regardless of whether she completed her 2-year contract or worked for only a few days, it’s your duty as her employer to cover the airfare.
5. The air ticket should cover the check-in luggage fee, and you are responsible for transporting her to the airport and facilitating the check-in process.

When should you cancel your maid’s Work Permit? You must cancel her Work Permit within 1 week after her last day of work or 1 day after her Work Permit expires, whichever comes first.

Steps to cancel your maid’s Work Permit independently:

Step 1) Log in with your SingPass and proceed to cancel her Work Permit. The cancellation is free and immediate.

Step 2) After cancellation, print the Special Pass, which will allow your maid to stay in Singapore until her departure.

Step 3) At the airport, provide the Special Pass to your maid. She must present this and her valid passport to the immigration officer before leaving Singapore.

Steps to cancel your maid’s Work Permit using an employment agency:

Step 1) Inquire if your employment agency offers Work Permit cancellation assistance. If not, search for agencies that provide this service. Be sure to inquire about any associated fees.

Step 2) Sign an authorization form provided by the agency, as it is required before they can cancel the Work Permit.

Step 3) Upon completion, the agency will email you the Special Pass, which you must pass to your maid for departure.

Step 4) If you have engaged the agency to handle repatriation, inquire about their charges for this service and make your decision accordingly.

Important Considerations:

As the legal employer, it is crucial to ensure that your maid departs Singapore as scheduled. The security bond is typically discharged within 7 days after her departure.

Once her Work Permit is canceled, she is prohibited from working, even while awaiting departure from Singapore.

The FDW Levy will continue to be charged until 1 day before the cancellation.

After canceling her Work Permit, it is advisable to cut the card in half and discard it to prevent any potential misuse.

In addition to canceling your maid’s Work Permit and arranging for repatriation, there is an alternative option to engage an employment agency to handle the cancellation process and potentially find her a new employer if she wishes to continue working in Singapore. Should she be unable to secure employment in time, the agency will be responsible for repatriating her, relieving you of this obligation.

This approach, often referred to as a “maid transfer,” offers a mutually beneficial solution. It allows you to save on the expenses associated with purchasing an air ticket, particularly during the current COVID-19 situation, while transferring your responsibilities as her employer to the agency.

If you decide to proceed with a maid transfer, please feel free to Whatsapp us today, and we will assist with the administrative works.