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Paying levy for a migrant domestic worker (MDW)

You need to pay a levy for your MDW every month using GIRO. Find out the levy rates and how to pay and view your levy bills.

What is the foreign worker levy

The foreign worker levy, commonly known as “levy”, is a pricing mechanism to regulate the number of foreigners in Singapore.

As an employer, you don’t have to pay Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for your helper. However, you must pay a monthly levy for her.

For first-time helpers, the levy will begin on the 5th day of their arrival (including the arrival date). Otherwise, the levy will begin the next day after the helper arrives.

The levy ends when the Work Permit is cancelled or expires.

Levy rate

The levy rate for helpers is as follows:

Type of levy Monthly rate Daily rate
Normal (1st helper) $300 $9.87
Normal (Subsequent helpers) $450 $14.80
Concessionary $60 $1.98

Note:

  • The daily levy rate only applies to helpers who did not complete a full calendar month. The daily levy rate is calculated as follows: (Monthly levy rate x 12) / 365 = rounding up to the nearest cent.
  • The concessionary rate applies to families with a young child, elderly member or person with disability. Find out if you qualify for levy concession.
  • When you are no longer eligible for levy concession or your number of helpers changes, the levy rate may be adjusted. The new rate takes effect immediately.

When and how to pay levy

You must pay the levy using General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO).

If you do not have a GIRO account, you can submit an application to us. You can check the status of your GIRO application using Check and pay levy.

If you are a new employer with no existing GIRO arrangement, you can pay using PayNow QR in Check and pay levy before your first GIRO deduction takes effect.

After GIRO is approved
  • The levy for each month will be deducted from your bank account on the 17th of the following month (or the next working day if it falls on a weekend or public holiday). 
    The levy for January will be deducted on 17 February.
  • You should maintain enough funds in your account before the deduction date. If the GIRO deduction is unsuccessful, your bank may charge you a failed transaction fee. 
If you need to pay levy using other methods

You must pay the levy for each month by the 17th of the following month.

You should not use other payment methods if you already have a GIRO arrangement, as the scheduled GIRO deduction will still go ahead.

View levy bills online

You can view your latest levy bill on the 6th of every month using Check and pay levy. You can log in using your Singpass.

You will receive the printed levy bill on the following month if:

  • You have not set up a GIRO account.
  • Your GIRO account has changed.
  • The amount payable is different from the earlier month.

Penalties for not paying levy

If you do not pay the full levy on time, you may face the following penalties:

  • You will be charged a late payment penalty of 2% per month or $20, whichever is higher. Your total late payment penalty will be capped at 30% of the outstanding levy.
  • Your helper's Work Permit will be revoked.
  • You will not be allowed to apply for or issue a new Work Permit, or renew an existing Work Permit.
  • You may face legal action to recover the unpaid levy.
What's next

Levy concession

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