Employers in Singapore will now have to pay at least SGD$550 (around PHP18,306) a month to employ a Filipino maid. This is the first salary increase for them in three years.
As Joanna Seow detailed in The Straits Times: “The minimum salary for maids set by the Philippine government had been USD$400 (around SGD574.57 or PHP19,112) for over a decade. To avoid exchange rate fluctuations, the Association of Employment Agencies (AEAS) of Singapore had an agreement more than three years ago with the Philippine Embassy that it would be set at SGD$500 (around PHP16,642) locally.”
The report then quoted AEAS president K. Jayaprema, who noted, “As the US dollar has strengthened — US$400 is now worth around S$575 — the change is not unexpected. Salaries do increase over time; it is a natural progression.”
Jayaprema added that “while some groups of helpers such as those doing caregiving and eldercare roles were already being paid above SGD$600 due to better qualifications, the majority still received around SGD$500 a month.”
