1) Singapore Budget 2018: Some maid employers to face monthly levy increase of up to $185 from April 1, 2019

01 Jan 1970 / 12:00 AM  

SINGAPORE – There will be increases to the foreign domestic worker levy, with the monthly levy for the first maid employed without a levy concession raised to $300 from the current $265. This is the first of three changes announced by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in the Budget statement, delivered in Parliament on Monday (Feb 19). Currently, about 80 per cent of Singaporean maid employers pay a $60 monthly levy under three concessionary schemes, instead of $265 a month. These employers qualify for the levy concession as long as they have members of their household who are aged at least 65, below 16 years of age or are disabled.

Second, the monthly levy for the second maid employed without a levy concession will increase to $450, up by $185. The last change is the raising of the qualifying age for levy concession under the aged person scheme. Currently, the qualifying age is 65 years. It will be raised to 67 years. Mr Heng said this move comes on the back of Singaporeans living longer, with improving health and increasing life expectancy.