Godwin Employment Agency ✓ ACRA Verified

Placement fees for a new-hire foreign domestic worker typically run S$1,500–3,500 through licensed agencies in Singapore; transfer helpers (already in Singapore on a valid Work Permit) usually attract a lower placement fee of S$500–1,500. On top of the agency fee, budget for the helper's monthly salary (S$550–800 depending on nationality and experience) and the monthly MOM levy — S$300 at the standard rate, or the concessionary S$60 if your household has a child under 16, an elderly member aged 67 or above, or a person with a disability. Confirm in writing exactly what is bundled: mandatory FDW insurance (~S$300–600/year), the Settling-In Programme, the pre-employment medical examination, and Work Permit application costs are legitimate line items but should be itemised so you can compare accurately. Contact Godwin directly for their current fee schedule. See the full maid agency cost guide for Singapore →

Every legitimate maid agency in Singapore must hold an MOM Employment Agency (EA) Licence, which is publicly verifiable by name or licence number on MOM's online EA directory. The licence number should appear on the agency's website, contracts, and invoices. At the time of this listing, no EA Licence has been confirmed in Godwin's listing data — this is a material gap that prospective clients must resolve before paying any deposit. EA Grading runs from A+ to C; agencies rated A+ or A have stronger compliance and complaint-handling track records. Hiring through an unlicensed agent is illegal, leaves you with no recourse if the helper absconds or the agency closes, and can void your FDW insurance. Verify the EA Licence number on MOM's online EA directory before paying any deposit, and read the agency contract's replacement, refund, and early-termination clauses.

A standard replacement guarantee covers a defined window — typically six months from the helper's arrival date — within which the agency will source a replacement at no additional placement fee if the original match does not work out. Confirm how many replacements are included, what circumstances void the guarantee (for example, early repatriation initiated by the employer versus a documented skills or temperament mismatch), and what a replacement costs if you are outside the guarantee period. Also clarify the early-termination process: if a placement breaks down, the household is responsible for the helper's repatriation flight, unused MOM levy refund coordination, and Work Permit cancellation paperwork. These costs can run S$500–1,500 and are not typically covered by the agency after the guarantee window closes. Get all replacement and termination terms in writing before signing.