Thinking of changing your helper or looking for a transfer in Singapore? Do these three things first

Yiru · Updated 23 October 2026

Changing your helper (maid) isn't cheap, and it doesn't always solve the problem. A lot of “not doing it right” is really “not explained clearly”. Before you change, do three things and give each other two weeks:

Write your expectations down again: which few things must be done well, and what “done well” looks like.
Ask her to say them back in her own words: to check she understood, not just said OK.
Give her a place to ask questions: so she can ask without having to speak up face to face.

If it still isn't working after two weeks, then consider a change.

What a change costs

According to the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) reply in Parliament in January 2026:

Upfront costs: the median upfront cost of hiring a new helper is about $4,700, of which about half is a loan to the helper that the employer later recovers.
Agency refund: if the contract ends within the first six months and there's no suitable replacement, the agency must refund at least half of the service fee (MOM refund rules).

Beyond the money, there's the time: finding someone, waiting for her to arrive, then explaining everything from the beginning. For how to explain things in the first week, see a new helper's first week.

Why so many problems come down to “not explained clearly”

MOM's Chinese-language guide for employers says the main reason employer–helper relationships go wrong is a breakdown in communication.
Complaints from both sides are often two sides of the same thing: the employer says “I taught her and she still can't do it”, the helper says “the standard isn't reasonable”. Either way, the standard wasn't made clear.
Across a language gap, her saying OK doesn't mean she understood — see Helper says OK but gets it wrong?.

First: write your expectations down again

List the 5 things you care about most, and write one sentence for each on what “done well” looks like.
If it's hard to put into words, take a photo of it done right — see Show a photo of “done right”.
Leave out things you don't really mind about. The fewer the expectations, the easier it is to meet them.

Second: ask her to say them back in her own words

Go through them one by one, then ask: “Can you tell me how you'll do this one?”
Correct anything she gets wrong there and then.
Keep it relaxed: you're checking together, not testing her.

Third: give her a place to ask questions

Tell her: “If anything isn't clear, message me any time — I won't be upset that you asked.”
When she asks, thank her for asking first.
After a week, sit down for ten minutes: which job is hardest? What's still unclear?

How to judge after two weeks

It's better: carry on, and keep filling in what you've written down.
Some things are still off: see if it's always the same thing. If so, break it down further or explain it another way.
Nothing has changed, or there's an issue of principle (safety, honesty): then changing helpers is a reasonable choice. Follow MOM's rules and your contract, and part on good terms.

Yiru makes this easier

Write your expectations as a house guide, translated into her language, with a photo for each step.
After reading, she taps “I understand”, or taps “I have a question” and asks you in her own language; you read it in yours.
When she does well, give her a little red flower and say thank you.

FAQ

Is two weeks enough?

It's enough to see the direction: once things are explained clearly, are they getting better? If nothing has changed at all, then think about other options.

Can the agency help?

You can go to the agency first and ask them to help with communication, especially when you don't share a language.

Sources

All checked in October 2026. Rules and figures may change; official websites take precedence.