A Families’ Guide to Helper Agencies in Singapore

Domestic helpers are often helpful to many families. Be sure to check out our guide before deciding to hire one!

We all know someone or even be that someone who could use help at home, whether it’s with kids or seniors who need extra care. With so many factors to consider and admin to complete, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has a handy guide on the what, who and how – and an extensive directory of agencies in Singapore. 

MOM’s Criteria to Consider

While you are sorting out the stay-in or part-time, years and type of work experience, budget, and so on, here are 4 more criteria you should consider, from MOM’s guide.

1. Retention Rate 

Percentage of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) placed by the agency who stay with the same employer for at least one year.
Note: a standard contract lasts for two years and the MOM site states an annual industry average.

2. Transfer Helper Rate

Percentage of FDWs who have transferred to three or more employers within one year.
Note: the lower the better!

3. Placement Volume

Number of helper work passes applied for by an agency, a good indication of how active, professional and response an agency is.

4. Experience

Number of years an agency has an active licence. Data below represents 1 year and is accurate at press time.

We have gathered a list of 21 reputable agencies to help you find the right helper for your needs. Check it out!

1. Alpha Employment Agency

Website: https://www.1alpha.com.sg/ 
Location: 170 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #02-23 Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, S588179
Phone Number: 6993 8368, 6993 8369

Candidates undergo personal one-to-one interviews with professional assessors, with suitability to be a helper further determined by the trainers through a basic Practical Household Skills Test.

Clearing the interview and practical assessment places candidates in their specialised training centre for both communication and skills training. More training and orientation take place when they arrive in Singapore.

Retention Rate: 71.37%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0.45%
Placement Volume: 252
Experience: 2 years

2. 1 Assist Agency

Website: https://1assist.com.sg/
Location: 

• 170 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #03-31/03-48 Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, S588179
• 865 Mountbatten Road, #01-09 Katong Shopping Centre, S437844

Phone Number: 6463 0419

Matching customers with domestic helpers from Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, as they count several accreditations under their belt. While waiting to be matched to households in their native countries, their training centres ensure candidates stay trained in household skills and basic elderly/children care, with basic English class.

They also accept requests to facilitate Specific Infant Care training for your helper, in partnership with accredited training providers. 

Retention Rate: 66.17%
Transfer Helper Rate: 1.26%
Placement Volume: 836
Experience: 10 years

3. A1 Employment Agency

Website: https://a1maid.com.sg/
Location: 545 Orchard Road, #05-12 Far East Shopping Centre, S238882
Phone Number: 9062 4828, 9021 5474

Offering a team of helpers from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, A1’s commitment extends beyond placement, assuring customers of ongoing support and assistance even after your helper has been assigned to your home.

Retention Rate: 66.91%
Transfer Helper Rate: 2.46%
Placement Volume:145
Experience: 20 years

4. Bestmaid

Website: https://bestmaid.com.sg/
Location: 190 Middle Road, #19-05 Fortune Centre, S188979
Phone Number: 66408017

While their website looks more like a listing of ads and agencies, this could be for parents who enjoy doing a bit of research on their own. We found some useful info and agency listings after navigating the site.

Retention Rate: 58.87%
Transfer Helper Rate: 3.41%
Placement Volume: 212
Experience: 11 years

5. Eden Grace

Website: https://www.edengracemaids.com/
Location: 

• 18 Sin Ming Lane, #07-38 Midview City, S573960
• 300 Tampines Avenue 5, #09-02 (Unit no S-03) Tampines Junction, S529653

 Phone Number: 6262 5562

Here’s an agency that emphasizes on helping employers and helpers integrate into a harmonious working relationship. Well and above professionally matching helpers to households, they have a monthly employer’s orientation programme, as well as Sunday programmes for helpers, focused on character building and providing a safe and engaging environment where our helpers can develop new skills, make new friends, and enjoy their time off with the occasional group outings and events.

Retention Rate: 70.37%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0.35%
Placement Volume: 306
Experience: 10 years

6. Faith Maid Agency

Website: https://faithmaid.com/
Location: 810 Geylang Road, #01-28 City Plaza, S409286
Phone Number: 6841 4178, 8463 4390

Faith was started by an Indonesian-born owner who felt deeply for under privileged village girls and ladies in Indonesia and wanted to provide work opportunities for them so that they and their families could enjoy a better life. The agency offers foreign domestic workers from not only Indonesia but also from Myanmar and the Philippines. They are accredited by the Indonesian Embassy, among other accolades.

Retention Rate: 61.97%
Transfer Helper Rate: 3.92%
Placement Volume: 61
Experience: 10 years

7. First Maid Pte Ltd

Website: https://firstmaid.sg/
Location: 

• 865 Mountbatten Road Katong Shopping Centre #02-45 S437844
• 170 Upper Bukit Timah Road Bukit Timah Shopping Centre #B1-21 S588179
• 545 Orchard Road Far East Shopping Centre #04-02 S238882

Phone Number: 8488 7603, 8488 7603

They have an extensive database of maids across Indonesia, Mizoram (India), Myanmar and the Philippines. Believing in three “fits”, they achieve Skill Fit – ensuring recommended candidates are equipped with the right skills and well trained to perform the job, Cultural Fit – doing their best for recommended helpers to have the right personalities and characters for the household, and Motivational Fit – supporting helpers to be genuinely interested in their work.

Retention Rate: 66.88%
Transfer Helper Rate: 2.18%
Placement Volume: 433
Experience: 4 years

8. HelperPlace

Website: https://www.helperplace.com/

HelperPlace is a licensed Employment Agency in Hong Kong, compliant with Code of Practice for Employment Agencies. Their online platform is user-friendly for both helpers and employers, across Singapore, Hong Kong and Middle East, with helper and job postings free for access and no hidden fees.

9. Help Is Here (HIH)

Website: https://hih.com.sg/
Location: No.1 Jalan Berseh, #03-14 New World Centre, S209037
Phone Number: 8922 2123

HIH’s infant care looks impressive, with trained and highly experienced helpers who will not only care for your child but also for the mother. Detailed screenings and background checks are conducted to ensure elite helpers have at least 4 years of working experience in Singapore for the best care possible. They even have a HIH PLACORE Menu, specially designed confinement & lactation meals that your assigned helper will be able to prepare.

Retention Rate: 67.58%
Transfer Helper Rate: 1.03%
Placement Volume: 232
Experience: 3 years

10. Island Maids

Website: https://www.islandmaids.com.sg/
Location:

• Block 716 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, #01-4030, S560716
• Block 214 Bedok Street 1, #01-183, S460214
• 19 Anamalai Avenue, S279987
• Block 804 Hougang Central, #01-132, S530804
• 133 Jurong Gateway Road, #01-293, S600133
• Block 82 Marine Parade Central, #01-606, S440082
• 429 Race Course Road, S218675
• Block 36 Beo Crescent, #01-33, S160036
• Block 930 Yishun Central 1, #01-117, S760930

Phone Number: 6448 7703, 9228 8732

In addition to helpers from India, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines, they also specialise in two types of postnatal help. Trained confinement nannies have the experience, aptitude and knowledge to help new moms navigate the stress and demands of caring for your newborns. Their popular Javanese Pre-Natal Massage involves a massage therapist helping moms to rest and relax.

Retention Rate: 57.59%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0.84%
Placement Volume: 1567
Experience: 10 years

11. JPB Maid Specialist

Website: http://jpbgroup.com/web/
Location: 

• 170 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #03-49, S588179 | 📞: 6467 0039
• Block 1A Eunos Crescent, #01-2467, S401001 | 📞: 6242 2777
• Block 21 Hougang Street 51, #02-23, S538719 | 📞: 6386 5339
• 865 Mountbatten Road, #01-16, S437844 | 📞: 6844 0589

JPB Group boasts more than 15 years of experience in providing households with well-trained helpers for Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia. They have a huge network in Indonesia and Philippines to fulfill customers’ requirements, as well as a 7000 meter square training centre in Jakarta. Their helpers undergo special cooking training to be great help preparing tasty and well-balanced meals for families.

Retention Rate: 66.82%
Transfer Helper Rate: 1.42%
Placement Volume: 902
Experience: 7 years

12. JForce Employment Service

Website: https://www.jforce.com.sg/
Location:

• Block 725 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, #01-4140, S560725 | 📞: 6909 2213, 6909 7836, 8886 9345
• 23 Bendemeer Road, #01-515, S330023 | 📞: 6635 2506, 6909 7835, 8133 4565
• 345 Jurong East Street 31, #01-13, S600345 | 📞: 6909 7782, 8886 9761

With nearly 10 years of experience in maids hiring, transfer, placement and training, and foreign workers recruitment, they specialise in Myanmar and Indonesian helpers as housekeepers, elderly, infant and toddler care.

Retention Rate: 70.57%
Transfer Helper Rate: 2.03%
Placement Volume: 757
Experience: 10 years

13. Ministry of Helpers

Website: https://www.ministryofhelpers.com/

Touted to have the largest helper database in Singapore, this is not an agency but a platform providing tools and support to help families, such as training and self-improvement programmes, as well as financial management and communication tools, all designed to be easily accessible to both parties.

Whether you prefer to find on your own without an agent and expensive maid agency fees, or enjoy the concierge service, their service doesn’t end there, as upon completion of the recruitment process, their extended service continues to support families and helpers. You can try their app from App Store or Google Play.

14. My Employment Agency

Website: https://myemploymentagency.sg/
Location:

• 10 Anson Road, #13-01, S079903 | 📞: 9101 8505
• 14 Scotts Road #02-60, S228213 | 📞: 9238 2922, 9238 2955

Since 2019, they have been assisting employers in finding suitable helpers to take care of elders and children. Striving to not only provide personalised services for employers to engage well-trained helpers to care for their families, they also aim to support helpers find meaningful employment. Be assured they will see through the entire process of hiring, documentation and training, as well as post-support.

Retention Rate: 66.46%
Transfer Helper Rate: 1.01%
Placement Volume: 674
Experience: 5 years

15. Nation Employment

Website: https://nation.sg/
Location:

• 135 Jurong Gateway Rd, #05-317, Singapore 600135 | 📞: 6665 8199
• 201E Tampines St 23, #02-100, Singapore 527201 | 📞: 6787 8199
• 125A Lor 2 Toa Payoh, #02-134, Singapore 311125 | 📞: 6353 8199
• 925 Yishun Central 1, #01-247, Singapore 760925 | 📞: 6555 8199

Nation must be one of the most known agencies in Singapore, providing trained helpers to 80,000 households since 1993. Among their many firsts in the industry, they were the first maid agency in Singapore to receive ISO 9001 certification and the first to have a training centre for MDWs within their office.

In this data era, they have been awarded the Data Protection Trustmark by the Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), a testimonial of their robust data privacy and protection framework. Work with them in 3 easy steps - make an appointment, kickstart interviews by shortlisting bio-data from their consultants, and let them take care of all the necessary paperwork to complete your hiring process.

Retention Rate: 68.06%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0%
Placement Volume: 287
Experience: 15 years

16. Prestige Management Services

Website: https://www.prestigemgmt.com.sg/prestige_maids
Location: 442 Orchard Road, #03-07 Claymore Connect, S238879
Phone Number: 6738 2100

Prestige is a premier manpower agency that has provided domestic workers to embassies and the expatriate community in Singapore for the past 20 years. Customers can be assured of meticulous screening and interviewing to meet clients’ requirements, structured skills training and orientation to local culture for helpers upon prompt arrival, and professional coaching and counselling.

Retention Rate: 73.33%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0%
Placement Volume: 232
Experience: 35 years

17. SWIFT Maids

Website: https://www.swiftmaids.com.sg/
Location:

• 449 Race Course Road, S218693 | 📞: 9388 8241, 9028 0589
• 217 Bedok North Street 1, #01-63, S460217 | 📞: 9005 2021
• 18 Yishun Avenue 9, #02-56 Junction Nine, S768897 | 📞: 8875 1487, 9005 1486

Pick your helper from the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and India (Manipur and Mizoram), in 3 simple steps. Connect with their seasoned consultants, discover your most suitable candidate and leave the paperwork to them!

Retention Rate: 69.93%
Transfer Helper Rate: 1.7%
Placement Volume: 471
Experience: 2 years

18. Thumbs Up Employment Agency

Website: https://www.thumbsupsg.com/
Location: 5 Coleman Street, #B1-21 Excelsior Shopping Centre, S179805 
Phone Number: 8821 4292

Specialising in helpers from Indonesia and Myanmar, they pride themselves on comprehensive and simple pricing packages to suit different needs.

Retention Rate: 73.85%
Transfer Helper Rate: 1.25%
Placement Volume: 89
Experience: 2 years

19. Universal Employment Agency Pte Ltd

Website: https://universalmaidagency.com/
Location: 304 Orchard Road, #01-97 & #03-52 Lucky Plaza, S238863 
Phone Number: 6735 3456

With a rich history dating back to 1986, Universal serves as a vital intermediary between households seeking domestic help and foreign domestic helpers searching for employment opportunities. They diligently ensure that the qualifications, experience and personalities of helpers harmonise with the requirements and preferences of each household.

Having achieved one of the highest retention rate according to the Ministry of Manpower for consecutive years, they are sought after for newborn, infant and child care, confinement nannies, besides elder and pet care!

Retention Rate: 71.92%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0%
Placement Volume: 813
Experience: 37 years

20. We Are Caring

Website: https://www.wearecaring.com/
Location: 61 Killiney Rd, Level 2, S239522 
Phone Number: 3163 4636

Started to implement a debt-free recruitment model for the benefit of both workers and families, this agency is really big on ethical hiring for all migrant workers. We Are Caring is the world's first ethical recruitment agency to secure the IRIS certification, the United Nation’s International Organisation for Migration initiative to promote ethical recruitment of migrant workers. They have expanded to Hong Kong in 2023, and even have their own mobile app that you can download here.

Retention Rate: 75.6%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0.21%
Placement Volume: 998
Experience: 8 years

21. ZecruitX

Website: https://www.zecruitx.com/
Location:144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #01-K10 Beauty World Centre, S588177
Phone Number: 6815 0016, 9327 8489

A veteran in Singapore’s helper industry with over 14 years of expertise, what sets ZecruitX apart is its commitment to personalised service rather than mass-market solutions. They pride themselves in delivering swift results with customers often securing their helpers within an average of 3 work days.

Retention Rate: 64.52%
Transfer Helper Rate: 0%
Placement Volume: 75
Experience: 13 years

Images credit from the agencies' website & social media