House rules for a new helper in Singapore: what to write down
Most first-month friction with a new helper isn't about attitude. It's about things nobody said out loud. Writing the house rules down, in both languages, removes the guessing.
1. The basics she needs on day one
Who lives in the home and how she should call each person. Allergies and medical needs. Which door key is which. Where cleaning products are kept and which ones must never be mixed (bleach with anything acidic is the classic).
2. Phone and Wi-Fi
Be specific about when (e.g. not while cooking or bathing a child) rather than banning it. Her phone is how she stays in touch with family; a clear rule feels fair, a vague one feels like suspicion.
3. Visitors, going out, bedtime
Say what you expect and why. "Please tell us if you go downstairs" lands better with a reason: "so we know where you are if Ah Ma needs help".
4. Mistakes and breakages
One line that changes everything: "If something breaks, tell us. Accidents happen." It turns hidden problems into fixable ones.
5. Rest day
Write down the arrangement you agreed together. For the rules themselves, quote MOM rather than paraphrasing. MOM's page says: Your MDW is entitled to one rest day per week. You and your MDW must mutually agree on which day of the week she should take the rest day.
Read the full page at mom.gov.sg.
6. Safety
Window cleaning (inside only), gas off after cooking, what to do if a child has a fever or an elder falls, and 995 / 999.
You will have to send a first-time migrant domestic worker (MDW) for the Settling-in Programme within 7 days of her arrival in Singapore excluding Sunday and public holidays.Source: mom.gov.sg, Settling-in Programme. The handbook is a home guide. It does not replace the SIP or give legal advice.