It depends on who does the work. What the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not allow is a foreign domestic worker taking part-time work for anyone other than her employer, even with her employer’s consent. For part-time or temporary household help, MOM points households to companies on its Household Services Scheme (HSS) list.
This guide sums up what MOM says, how the scheme works and how to check a company before you book. It summarises MOM’s published guidance and is not legal advice. MOM’s own pages, linked below, are the authority, and you can contact MOM directly about your situation.
What MOM says about part-time work
MOM’s FAQ Can I hire an FDW from another employer on a part-time basis to do household work? answers “No.” It states that it is an offence for a foreign domestic worker (FDW) to take part-time employment, even with her employer’s consent. Under her Work Permit conditions, she may do household chores only for her employer, at the residential address on her Work Permit.
MOM’s employment rules for migrant domestic workers say the same from the employer’s side: a helper cannot take on work with other employers, and can only work for her employer at the residential address declared to MOM. Employers can be penalised for deploying her to work at another residential address.
In practice, this means a household should not pay a neighbour’s or a friend’s helper to clean for a few hours, even if her employer agrees.
What the Household Services Scheme is
MOM’s Household Services Scheme lets companies hire more migrant workers to provide part-time domestic services. MOM gives home cleaning, grocery shopping, car washing and pet-sitting as examples.
For part-time or temporary household help, MOM says households can contact any company on its list of HSS companies. The help then comes through a company approved under the scheme.
MOM also links a separate list of HSS companies that can provide basic elder-minding. If you need nursing or medical care at home, MOM advises using specialised caregiving companies instead.
How to check the HSS list
- Open MOM’s Household Services Scheme page and follow the link to the list of HSS companies (a PDF). It opens with MOM’s note that if you need part-time household services, such as home cleaning, you can contact any of these companies.
- Ask the company for its registered company name. The list uses registered names, which can differ from a brand name. KleanSG, for example, is listed as @KLEANSG SERVICES PTE. LTD.
- Use your browser’s or PDF reader’s search to look for that name.
- Check the “Updated as of” date at the foot of each page, and use the current list on MOM’s site rather than a saved copy or a screenshot.
If a company says it is on the list but you cannot find it, ask which name it is listed under before you book.
Questions to ask before you book
Being on the HSS list tells you how the help is provided. It does not tell you how the service works day to day, so ask:
- Which tasks are covered on each visit, and which are not?
- What is the hourly rate, is GST included, and what is the minimum per visit?
- Who provides the cleaning products and equipment?
- Will the same person come each time?
- How do rescheduling and cancellations work?
- Which days and times are available?
Get the agreed tasks, rate and terms in writing, even if that is a WhatsApp message. Our guide to mistakes to avoid when choosing a home cleaner covers the other checks worth making.
Part-time help from KleanSG
KleanSG is on MOM’s HSS company list (list updated 1 September 2026). Our part-time cleaner service works like this:
- $23.98 per hour including GST ($22 before GST), with a 2-hour minimum per visit
- you provide the cleaning products and equipment
- we aim to send the same cleaner for every weekly visit
- tasks include floors and dusting, the kitchen and bathrooms, laundry, ironing, changing bedsheets and washing dishes
- visits run on weekdays and Saturdays
- you can cancel or reschedule without extra charges or fees
If you only need cleaning sessions rather than help with chores, regular home cleaning may suit you better. Our guide to the difference between a part-time maid and a home cleaning service compares the two. You can check our licences on the credentials page.
