Last updated: 4 October 2026 · Written by Jude Lee, Director, Jobs and Staff Pte Ltd (Goodhire), MOM EA Licence 16C7967, DMW-accredited
Quick answer:
Yes, you can hire a Filipino helper you have found yourself, but not without an agency. The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) bans agency-fee direct hiring of Filipino domestic workers. Your hire must be processed by an MWO – accredtied Singapore agency with a working partnership with a DMW-licensed Philippine agency.
Goodhire processes direct hire from the Philippines from 1600SGD, and charges helpers zero fees.
Is direct hire from the Philippines legal? Why you’ll find conflicting answers
Search “direct hire maid Philippines Singapore”, and you will find guides saying it is banned and others saying it is easy. Both are partly right, because “direct hire” means two different things.
- What the Philippine government bans: an employer hiring a domestic worker without a licensed agency. The only exemptions are diplomats, international organisations and senior government officials.
- What Singapore families mean by “direct hire”: you have already chosen a specific helper, such as a former helper, a relative of your current helper, or someone recommended to you. An accredited agency then does the legal processing, but does not source a candidate for you.
The second arrangement is legal and common, and it is the service Goodhire provides. The table below sets out the most common claims you will read, with the official source for each answer.
| What you may read | What is actually true | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| “I can direct hire a Filipino domestic worker without an DMW accredited Agency.” | False. Employers must go through a DMW-licensed or accredited agency. The exemptions cover diplomatic corps, international organisations and senior officials only. | MWO Singapore: Direct Hiring of Domestic Workers |
| “So I can’t hire the helper I found myself.” | False. You can. The hire is processed by a Singapore employment agency that partners with a DMW-licensed Philippine recruitment agency. DMW requires agency representation in both Singapore and Philippines. | MWO Singapore: Hiring Filipino Domestic Workers in Singapore |
| “I can do it myself through MOM’s WP Online, no agency needed.” | False. DMW requires the Singapore agency to apply for the Work Permit, as well as verification of contract with MWO. When employers ask the MWO about direct hiring, it confirms the ban and directs them to a licensed and accredited Singapore agency. | MWO Singapore FAQ: Directly hiring a domestic worker |
| “Register the helper with the POEA.” | Outdated name. The POEA’s functions now sit with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Philippine Embassy’s labour office is now the Migrant Workers Office (MWO). | Department of Migrant Workers |
| “Minimum salary is USD 400.” | Outdated. For new contracts, and for renewals from 21 October 2025, the minimum is SGD 650 (USD 500) a month under DMW Advisory No. 25, Series of 2025. | MWO Singapore: Minimum Employment Standards |
| “No interview is needed for a direct hire.” | False since the 2025 reforms. A mandatory “Know Your Employer” video call between you and the helper must take place before the contract is finalised. It does not apply when renewing with the same employer. | MWO Singapore: Know Your Employer protocol |
| “The helper only needs to be 23.” | Two rules apply. MOM accepts first-time helpers aged 23 to below 50. The MWO’s checklist for Filipino domestic workers sets a minimum hiring age of 24. | MOM: Helper eligibility and MWO checklist |
| “The helper can pay a placement fee or a salary-deduction loan.” | Prohibited. Filipino domestic workers are exempt from placement fees. Salary deductions to recover recruitment costs, and agencies keeping the helper’s passport, are both banned. | MWO Singapore: Placement fee and deductions |
How a direct hire from the Philippines works with Goodhire
- You confirm you are eligible. You must be 21 or older. First-time employers must complete MOM’s Employer Orientation Programme before applying. (MOM employer requirements)
- Know Your Employer video call. You and your helper discuss duties, household members, rest days and accommodation.
- You send us the helper’s contact details. Our Philippines Agency Partner will reach out to your helper, to explain the process, verify the information and documents, and tentatively arrange a medical appointment with a DMW-accredited clinic.
- We apply for MOM In-Principle Approval (IPA). Once the helper is cerified medically FIT. The IPA must be issued before any Philippine processing begins.
- We verify the contract at MWO Singapore. The contract follows the DMW Standard Employment Contract, with a minimum salary of SGD 650 and one rest day a week. Off-day work compensation is allowed if mutually agreement; however, you must provide your Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) with at least one rest day per month that cannot be compensated with cash
Concurrently, Our Philippine agent will proceed with her the worker’s Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP), a mandatory orientation and training course for departing migrant and household service workers. (OWWA seminar, PDOS and NC II TESDA certification) - Our Philippine partner agency processes her departure. Once the verified employment contract is received from Singapore, together with the medical certification and CPDEP certificate, final submission to DMW for the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate)
- She arrives in Singapore. She completes the Settling-In Programme if she is a first-timer, and MOM issues her Work Permit.
How much does direct hire from the Philippines costs
| Service | Goodhire fee | Who finds the helper |
|---|---|---|
| Direct hire from the Philippines | From SGD 1,600 | You |
| Agency hire from the Philippines | From SGD 2,200 | Goodhire |
Included: agency service fees in both Singapore and the Philippines, document verification and processing in both countries, and MOM application and issuance fees.
Paid separately by the employer: 1 way airfare from the Philippines; helper insurance; medical in Singapore.
Why families choose Goodhire for direct hire
MOM-licensed (EA 16C7967) and accredited with the DMW through MWO Singapore
Processing direct hires from the Philippines since 2016
Zero placement fees to helpers, so your helper starts work debt-free
One fee that covers the work in both countries, with no hidden Philippine-side charges
No GST charged
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Philippine rules ban agency-free direct hiring of domestic workers, except for diplomats, international organisations and senior officials. You can choose the helper yourself, but an MWO-accredited Singapore agency must process the hire.
For a direct hire, you have already found the helper and Goodhire handles the legal processing, from SGD 1,600. In an agency hire, Goodhire also sources and screens candidates for you, from SGD 2,200.
Yes. This is one of the most common direct hires. We process her as a new deployment under the current DMW standards, including the SGD 650 minimum salary.
Estimated, 3-5 weeks from when the worker is certified FIT to Work. The main variables are; MOM IPA approval, MWO contract verification, and medical and OEC processing in the Philippines.
SGD 650 (USD 500) a month for new contracts, and for contracts renewed from 21 October 2025, under DMW Advisory No. 25, Series of 2025.
Yes. The DMW’s Know Your Employer protocol requires a video call before the contract is finalised. It does not apply to contract renewals with the same employer. Its also good employment practice that both the employer and worker to be fully transparent with the job scope and duties, as well as benefits.
No. Filipino domestic workers are exempt by the DMW from placement fees, and salary deductions to recover recruitment costs are prohibited. Goodhire’s fee is paid only by the employer.
She should be at least 24 for a Filipino helper (MOM accepts first-time helpers from 23 to below 50), have at least 8 years of formal education with a recognised certificate, and pass the pre-departure medical.