Singapore. General information

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1 General information Basic information of domestic The main institution is The Central Provident Fund (CPF) that operates based on individual savings of joint contributions between employers and employees. The CPF has evolved into a comprehensive social security system for retirement, health care, home-ownership; family protection and asset purchase (Hall, 2012). All employees must contribute to the institution, except migrant including domestic. Information for 2014: Number of domestic : 218,300 (2014) (MOM, 2014a) Percentage of women domestic : Percentage of urban domestic : Percentage of migrant domestic : Median/average income of domestic : Legislation Central Provident Fund Act (1953). Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (1990). Workplace Safety and Health Act (2006). Employment Agencies Act (1958). Work Injury Compensation Act (2008) National definition of domestic work There are two laws that refer to domestic work in Singapore: Employment Act. Art 2. Domestic worker means any house, stable or garden servant or motor car driver, employed in or in connection with the domestic services of any private premises." According to this Act, the scope does not cover to domestic (domestic or foreign). Central Provident Fund Act. (Chapter 36, Section 69). " domestic employee means an employee employed by a person exclusively in the work or in connection with the work of that person s private domestic household and not of any trade, business or profession carried on by the employer in that household, and includes a cook, house servant (including bedroom and kitchen servants), waiter, butler, child s or baby s nurse, valet, watchman, gardener, groom and driver or cleaner of any vehicle licensed for private use." This law is applied to Singapore citizens and permanent residents only, not migrants. Regime of protection Coverage through general scheme of The Central Provident Fund, CPF. CPF is a compulsory comprehensive savings plan (MOM, 2012). Covered Population: Cook; House servant (including bedroom and kitchen servants); Waiter; Butler; Child s or baby s nurse; Valet; Watchman; Gardener; Groom; Driver.

2 Scope of coverage, according to the C.189 Convention 189 Cooking Cleaning Taking care of children, the elderly, others Gardeners Guardians Family chauffeurs Social security Contingencies covered Covered Contingencies: - Heath care, through social insurance institution (CPF) - Sickness benefit (Employer-liability) - Old-age benefits, through social insurance institution (CPF) - Maternity benefits (Employer-liability) - Invalidity benefits, through social insurance institution (CPF) - Survivors' benefits, through social insurance institution (CPF) Are there provisions for maternity protection: pre, during and post natal care, income replacement during maternity leave?, through employer liability. Prescribed qualification procedure (maternity): N.D. Are the dependents of domestic covered? N.D. Administration Social security coverage Financing issues The Central Provident Fund, CPF is responsible for the administration of the program, including the custody of the fund, collection of contributions, and payment of benefits. Ministry of Manpower provides general supervision through its Income Security Policy Department. Source: issa. int N.A. Is the contribution rate differentiated? No. It is equivalent to that of other employees. Reference wage for contribution payments: Gross wage of the worker. These include payments such as overtime pay, cash incentives, allowances, commissions, bonuses. Are there state subsidies for contributions? No. Total contribution rate: From 11.5 to 36 per cent, depending on the age of the worker. Social contributions for domestic (%) Employer Employee age (years) Total Contribution Employee 35 & below Above Above Above Above Above Above Source: CPF, 2014b.

3 If an employee earns more than $50 (US$ 38) but less than $500 (US$ 380) a month, CPF contributions would be borne solely by the employers. Also, the percentage of the contributions may be increased, depending on the age of the worker.. Registration practices Is the affiliation mandatory?. Only citizens or permanent residents have mandatory affiliation. Registration procedure: The procedure must be performed by an employer when the employee is hired. The employer is required to pay contributions for domestic who exceed 14 hours in any week (CPF, 2014c). Entities involved: The Central Provident Fund, CPF. Registration of domestic : The procedure is equivalent to that applied to other employees. Is there a unique system of registration?. Is there portability in the contributions between the schemes?, when domestic change their occupational category, they are still protected under the social protection scheme. Are there complaint mechanisms available (in case of non-compliance with social security legislation)?. The complaint can be made in the CPF, by phone, , in service centers or through the website. Are there inspection mechanisms to enforce the compulsory coverage?. Are there rules for affiliation and payment of specific contributions to domestic working on a part time and/or multiple employers bases?. Affiliation system has two mechanisms (CPF, 2014a). The system allows register to part-time or casual, and it is also possible that a single worker can register two or more employers. More information: Contributory minimum wage: Wages If the worker earns less than $ 50 does not contribute to CPF, and if the salary is less than 500, only the employer contributes. What is the process for registering domestic? The registration is under employer responsibility, at the social security offices or online. What are the specific requirements for registering? Fill out an application, which must be signed by the employer. Identification of the employer. Identification of the worker. Are there any mechanisms in place to facilitate registration for domestic? Online administration. More information: .

4 Collection of contributions Is there a single national system for the collection of contributions? The CPF has the legal responsibility for the collection of contributions and payment of benefits. Are there measures to facilitate the payment of contributions?. The procedure can be done in person, major banks or bank transfer. Coverage of women domestic Are there sanction mechanisms for employers?. According to CPF Act, the employers have interest for late payment (1.5 % per month), plus a fine; the amount of the fine may be higher for repeat offenders. If the employer deducts the contribution of the employee's salary, and he does not pay the contributions, the law applies a fine or included years in prison. Are there special provisions in the law for women domestic? No. Does the state subsidize contributions of (women) domestic? No. Are there problems of discrimination against women? No documentation / no evidence. Are there problems of discrimination against women? What are these problems?. Singapore requires foreign domestic to undergo a medical examination for infectious diseases and pregnancy every six months. A failure of the test results in immediate repatriation. Migrant domestic Is there a difference between national and non-national domestic in terms of protection?. The social security scheme in Singapore (the CPF) is applied to Singapore citizens and permanent residents only (Hall, 2011). The employers must purchase a medical insurance for their domestic. Insurance coverage must be at least $15,000 per year (US$ 11,400) for inpatient care and day surgery. In addition, employers are also expected to cover all medical expenses in excess of, or expenses not covered by their domestic worker s medical insurance policy (Wong, 2014 and UNIFEM Singapore, HOME, TWC2, 2011). Employers must purchase a personal accident insurance policy with a minimum assurance sum of $40,000 per year (US$ 30,500), and with compensation payable to your domestic worker or her beneficiaries (Work Injury Compensation Act). Is there a difference between resident and non-resident domestic in terms of protection?. Are there special provisions in the law for coverage of migrant domestic?. Migrant domestic must be over 23 years and less than 60 years after entering the country for the first time. Also must have a work permit, which lasts for two years. Are there any agreements on portability with other countries? No. There are no bilateral or multilateral labour or social security agreements between Singapore and countries with which it has greater flow of migrant (Piper, 2005). Migrant domestic as % of domestic : Female migrant domestic as % of migrant domestic : Urban migrant domestic as % of migrant domestic :

5 Specific provisions or agreements with regards to migrant domestic The migrant domestic worker must be between 23 and 50 years old when first entering Singapore and may work up to the age of 60. Also, The worker must have 8 years' minimum formal education. The employers are required to deposit a $3,800 security bond with Ministry of Manpower (MOM). It is a measure to ensure that both the employer and the domestic worker abide by the agreed working conditions of the contract (Wong, 2014). The security bond will be refunded upon the termination of the domestic worker s work permit. Also, the employers are liable to pay monthly levies to hire employees who hold work permits. The Foreign Worker Levy has a monthly value $ 295 (US$ 224). Good practices Available online or classroom courses for employers who hire domestic, in order to explain, among other things, social security responsibilities. Access to loans to affiliates as part of the incentives to be included in social security. The contribution rate depends on the age of the worker. The contribution rate increases depending on the worker's age. The existence of a minimum contributory wage for domestic, meaning that employers pay the full social security contributions. Single national and centralized system for the collection of contributions (national ). Availability of heavy penalties for breach of employer responsibilities and in particular payment of contributions. Higher minimum age for employment, in the case of migrant domestic. Barriers Complexity in defining the contribution rate. There are no social security agreements with countries with high flow of migrant. Coverage for sickness and maternity benefits under the responsibility of the employer. Difficulty in procedures for hiring a migrant domestic worker. Stringent permit requirements for migrant domestic Exclusion of domestic in employment law. Difficult to apply for a work permit for migrant domestic. There is evidence of discrimination on female domestic. Challenges It is necessary to incorporate mechanisms for affiliation and contributory control for who are not registered. Improve the quality and access of information. Improving articulation between the inspection service of the social security and the labour ministry. Conclude various multilateral and bilateral agreements on social security. Designing an insurance system for employees working for hours. Create a system of multi-employer insurance. ILO standards ratification and application Reference The country has no ratified ILO Convention in the field of social security. C012 - Workmen's Compensation (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 12) C019 - Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19) CPF. 2014a. Find out if CPF contributions are payable. Who do you need to pay CPF contributions for? Central Provident Fund. Singapore. CPF. 2014b. Guide to CPF Contribution rates. From 1 January Central Provident Fund. Singapore. CPF. 2014c. Types of payments to employees. Central Provident Fund, CPF. Singapore. Hall, Andy. Migrant Workers and Social Protection in ASEAN: Moving Towards a Regional

6 Standard? Journal of Population and Social Studies, Volume 21 Number 1, July 2012: ISSA Social Security Country Profiles. Singapore. International Social Security Association. Geneva. MOM CPF Contributions. Ministry of Manpower. Singapore. MOM. 2014a. Foreign Workforce Numbers. Ministry of Manpower. Singapore. MOM. 2014b. Work Permit Application for a Foreign Domestic Worker. Ministry of Manpower. Singapore. MOM. Undated. Your guide to employing a foreign domestic. Ministry of Manpower. Singapore. Piper, N. (2005). Migrant labor in Southeast Asia: Study country: Singapore. Project on migrant labor in Southeast Asia. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES, German). Retrieved September 1, UNIFEM Singapore, HOME, TWC Made to work. Attitudes Towards Granting Regular Days Off to Migrant Domestic Workers in Singapore. The Singapore National Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME) and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).