Maid Seeks Guidance on Staying in Singapore After Employer Cancels Work Permit

SINGAPORE: A foreign domestic helper recently turned to social media for advice on whether she could remain in Singapore after her employer canceled her Work Permit (WP). In a post within a support group for domestic helpers and employers, she inquired, “Hi – what happens if an employer cancels the work permit and buys the ticket to send me home? Can I stay in Singapore after my work permit is canceled?”

Seeking urgent responses, she emphasized the immediacy of her situation. Commenters on her post noted that her options would be limited, advising her to first discuss the cancellation with her employer to understand the reasoning behind it.

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), employers must follow specific protocols before canceling a helper’s Work Permit, including:

Agreeing on the last day of work with the helper.
Settling any outstanding employment issues, such as salary payments.
Ensuring the helper has a valid passport.
Purchasing an air ticket, which must cover check-in luggage and transportation to the nearest international port in her home country/region.
The departure date must be within two weeks of the cancellation.
Additionally, the employer and helper should have a written agreement regarding transit arrangements, including connecting flights and any necessary allowances for the journey.

For helpers still in Singapore after the cancellation, employers are required to:

Use the FDW eService to cancel the Work Permit.
Print a Special Pass for the helper, allowing her to stay in Singapore until her departure. The helper must present this Special Pass and a valid passport to immigration authorities when leaving.
If the employer requires the helper to work for a short period beyond the Work Permit expiration, a request for a short extension can be made. However, the employer must ensure the helper departs as scheduled. The security bond will typically be discharged one week after the helper’s departure, provided all conditions are met.

Importantly, once the Work Permit is canceled, the helper is not permitted to work while waiting to leave Singapore. The employer will continue to incur levy charges until one day before the cancellation, and the Work Permit card should be cut in half and discarded to prevent any misuse.