*The Ministry of Manpower now uses the term migrant domestic worker (MDW), though many employers still search using the older term FDW. This guide uses MDW throughout, in line with MOM’s current terminology.*
Before you commit to hiring a migrant domestic worker (MDW), one of the most useful things you can do is check her employment history in Singapore. This record shows you how long she stayed with previous employers and why each job ended, information that tells you far more than a resume or an agency’s verbal summary ever could. If you are still working through the earlier stages of the process, our guides on how to hire a maid and the criteria to hire a maid cover eligibility and preparation. This article focuses specifically on the employment history check itself: why it matters, how to run it, and how to read the results.
Why Checking Employment History Matters Before You Hire
An MDW’s past employment record gives you a factual, MOM-verified account of her work history in Singapore. Instead of relying only on what the candidate or her agency tells you, you can see the actual dates she worked for each household and how each placement concluded. For first-time employers in particular, this step reduces the risk of hiring someone whose past placements ended for reasons that were never disclosed during the interview. It also gives you talking points for the interview itself, since any pattern in the record is worth raising directly with the candidate. Our maid interview questions checklist has a full list of questions you can pair with what the employment history shows.
What MOM’s Employment History Check Shows
MOM maintains an official employment record for every MDW who has worked in Singapore under a Work Permit. Employers can access a prospective helper’s employment record before hiring her, so that they are not going in blind. This record is tied to her Work Permit history rather than to any agency’s internal notes, which is what makes it a reliable reference point regardless of which agency represented her previously.
How to Check an MDW’s Employment History via MOM’s eService
MOM provides this check through the FDW eService, accessible on mom.gov.sg.
Step 1: Log in with Singpass. The FDW eService requires Singpass authentication, so you will need your own Singpass account to proceed.
Step 2: Open the employment history check. Within the FDW eService, select the option to check a prospective MDW’s employment record.
Step 3: Enter the candidate’s particulars. You will need her name or FIN, along with her nationality and date of birth, to pull up the correct record.
Step 4: Review the record returned. The system will display her Singapore employment record based on the particulars submitted.
If you would rather not run this yourself, MOM also allows your employment agency to perform this check on your behalf. This is one of the reasons it is worth engaging a licensed agency rather than sourcing a helper informally: the agency can pull and interpret the record for you as part of the placement process.
What to Look For When Reading the Record
Once you have the employment record in front of you, read it with these two questions in mind.
Length of stay with previous employers
A candidate who has completed full contract terms, or stayed with employers for extended periods, generally points to a stable, adaptable worker. Very short stints across multiple households in a short span is not automatically disqualifying, but it is worth asking about directly in the interview rather than assuming the worst or ignoring it.
Reasons the previous placement ended
How and why a placement ended matters as much as how long it lasted. Employers change for many legitimate reasons: relocation, the family’s needs changing, or the household no longer requiring live-in help. Others point to friction that is worth exploring further. Rather than treating any single data point as a red flag on its own, look at the overall pattern and use it to shape the questions you ask during the interview.
What the Transfer Process Also Tells You
If you are hiring an MDW who is transferring directly from another employer rather than arriving from overseas, the transfer mechanics themselves add another layer of verification. A direct transfer requires the current employer’s consent through the FDW eService, confirmation that her medical examination is up to date, and a minimum period remaining on her current Work Permit before the new Work Permit can be applied for. The new employer then needs to arrange the security bond and required insurance, and the new Work Permit is issued within a set window tied to either the approval date or the current permit’s expiry, whichever comes first. Because the current employer has to actively cooperate in this process, a smooth, cooperative transfer is itself a mild positive signal. For the full mechanics, see our guide on how to transfer a maid in Singapore. If you want the fundamentals of the permit itself, our FDW work permit guide covers eligibility, validity, and renewal.
Let Inter Great Handle the Verification for You
Checking an employment record online is straightforward once you know where to look, but interpreting what you see, and knowing which questions to ask the candidate as a result, is where experience helps. Inter Great Employment can run this check as part of your placement, walk you through what the record means for a specific candidate, and help you shortlist helpers whose history matches what your household needs. If you are currently comparing candidates, reach out to our team and we will pull the relevant records as part of the shortlisting process.
Get in touch with us today @ +6597766988. Inter Great Employment Pte Ltd (MOM EA Licence No: 14C6931).
(Disclaimer by Inter Great: All above information and/or monetary figures are meant for reference only. Please refer to MOM’s official website for updated and accurate information, or approach and consult our recruitment consultant if you need professional advice and consultation.)
Frequently Asked Questions About FDW Employment History Checks in Singapore
Can I check an MDW’s employment history myself before hiring her?
Yes. MOM’s FDW eService lets employers check a prospective MDW’s employment record directly using Singpass, provided you have her name or FIN, nationality, and date of birth.
Do I need Singpass to check the employment record?
Yes. The FDW eService requires you to log in with your own Singpass account before you can access any employment history record.
Can my agency check the employment history for me?
Yes. MOM allows your employment agency to carry out this check on your behalf, which is one of the practical benefits of working with a licensed agency rather than sourcing a helper independently.
What should I do if I see several short placements in the record?
Treat it as a prompt for further questions rather than an automatic red flag. Ask the candidate directly about each placement during the interview, and weigh her explanation alongside the rest of her profile.
Does a direct transfer between employers affect what I can check?
A direct transfer requires the current employer’s consent through the FDW eService and confirmation of an up-to-date medical examination before the new Work Permit can be processed, which adds an additional layer of verification beyond the employment record alone.