Part-time cleaner legal rules in brief
It is an offence for a foreign domestic worker (FDW) to work part-time, with or without her employer's consent, according to MOM's FAQ on hiring an FDW part-time. Under the Work Permit conditions, an FDW does domestic chores only for her employer, at the residential address stated on her Work Permit card.
For part-time or temporary help with household chores, MOM says you can contact any of the companies it lists under the Household Services Scheme (HSS).
| Arrangement | What the rules on this page say |
|---|---|
| Your own helper, at the address on her Work Permit card | Domestic chores for you, her employer, are allowed |
| Another household's helper, working part-time for you | An offence, with or without her employer's consent |
| A cleaner from a Household Services Scheme company | Listed for part-time or temporary help with chores |
The Household Services Scheme
MOM's FAQ on the Household Services Scheme says the scheme allows companies to hire more migrant workers to provide part-time domestic services such as home cleaning, grocery shopping, car-washing and pet-sitting. Selected HSS companies can also hire more migrant workers to provide basic elder-minding services. MOM lists the HSS companies and says you can contact any of them for part-time or temporary help with household chores.
So if you want to hire a foreign part time cleaner, the route MOM describes is an HSS company. The same HSS page does not say that a cleaning company must be on the list. Whichever company you choose, ask how it employs the cleaner who will come to your home.
You can browse part-time cleaners to see what each company publishes about its service.
Risks of illegal deployment
MOM's employment rules for migrant domestic workers set out the limits of a helper's Work Permit. She needs a valid Work Permit, can only work for her employer at the residential address declared to MOM, can only perform domestic chores, and cannot take on work with other employers.
The same rules say employers who illegally deploy a helper face a financial penalty and may be banned from employing helpers. Employing a helper without a valid Work Permit can lead to fines and jail.
MOM's FAQ takes up a question many households have: can you hire another employer's helper part-time to do household work? Its answer is no. An illegal part time maid arrangement stays an offence even when her employer agrees.
Published part-time cleaning rates
The table below lists published part-time or regular cleaning lines from 26 companies, each quoted as printed and linked to its source. Of these, 9 price per hour: their lowest published hourly rates run from S$20 to S$24 per hour, with S$22 per hour in the middle.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published part-time cleaning rates
For the most common unit (per hour), the lowest published part-time cleaning rates from 9 companies run from S$20 to S$24 per hour (middle rate S$22), for a part-time cleaner. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 26 published part-time cleaning rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go Cleaners Pte Ltd | Hourly cleaning | S$18 per visit | gocleaners.sg |
| J+U Envirolution Pte Ltd | Explore hourly cleaning | S$18 | juenvirolution.com |
| 6 Days Cleaning | Weekly/ Fortnightly Part Time Cleaning | From S$20 per hour | 6days.sg |
| Avalon Services | Part-time helper, weekly / fortnightly (min. 3 bookings) | From S$21 per hour | avalon-services.com.sg |
| Easyclean SG | Hourly cleaning service | From S$22 per hour | easycleansg.com |
| Natural Clean | General Weekly Bi-weekly Home Cleaning | From S$22 per hour | naturalclean.com.sg |
| Part Time Home Maid Service Singapore | Best Weekly Maid Service & Part Time Cleaner Services | From S$22 per hour | parttimehomemaid.com |
| Sureclean | General weekly home cleaning | From S$22 | sureclean.com.sg |
| KleanSG | Part-time maid, per cleaner (incl. GST, min 2 hours) | S$23.98 per hour | kleansg.com |
| Beck And Call | Weekly cleaning, made easy. | S$24 per hour | beckandcall.com.sg |
| Clean Off | Weekly home cleaning, day slot (min 3 hrs/session, 4 sessions) | S$24 per hour | cleanoff.com.sg |
| Helperoo Pte Ltd | Your Reliable House Cleaning Agency | From S$24 per hour | helperoo.com.sg |
| BUTLER Housekeeping | Regular Housekeeping | From S$27 | housekeeping.sg |
| Cleanhub Facility Pte Ltd | Hourly Rates | S$40 | cleanhub.sg |
| CleanAxisCo. Pte Ltd | Home cleaning, 3 hours | From S$66 per visit | cleanaxisco.com.sg |
| Arkin Pte Ltd | Weekly Home Care · 3 / 4 hours | S$69 | arkin-sg.com |
| Mycleanhome | Part-time cleaner, 3 hours | S$70 per session | mycleanhomesg.com |
| Nimbus Homes | 3 Hours Housekeeping | S$81 per visit | nimbushomes.com |
| Cleano Services | Weekly cleaning, from | From S$150 per month | cleano.com.sg |
| Superb Cleaning Pte Ltd | Bi-Weekly (2 sessions per month) - (3 hours) | S$150 per month | superb-cleaning.com |
| Comfy Homes Singapore | Part-time cleaning, 2 sessions/month, 4 hours weekday | S$218 per month | comfyhomes.com.sg |
| Just Clean Lah | House cleaning, standard one-bedroom HDB flat | From S$288 | justcleanlah.com |
| Household Service Elite Pte Ltd | Weekly cleaning, once a week, 3 hours per session (4 sessions) | S$336 per month | homecares.sg |
| Home Carely Cleaning Services | Weekly cleaning, 4-room HDB or condo (1,001-1,200 sq ft) | S$380 to S$400 per month | homecarelycontract.sg |
| Part Time Maid | Domestic Cleaning Services in Singapore FAQ | From S$427 per month | part-time-maid.com |
| Auntie Cleaner Pte Ltd | Weekly part-time maid cleaning, 4 hrs/session, 1 cleaner | S$474 per month | auntiecleaner.com.sg |
The rest use other units, such as per visit, per session or per month, or print their line without a unit, so do not compare them with the hourly figures. Several hourly lines also need a minimum, for example "min. 3 bookings" or "min 2 hours", so read the conditions printed with each rate.
For more on how hourly lines and their minimums work, see part-time cleaner hourly rates. For one-off jobs and other services, see home cleaning prices.
What to ask a cleaning company
Before your first booking, ask the company these questions and keep its answers:
- Is it an HSS company, or do its cleaners work for it directly?
- Who employs the cleaner who will come to your home?
- Is there a minimum number of hours or bookings?
- Does the cleaner bring cleaning supplies, or should you provide them?
- If your regular cleaner is away, will the company send a replacement?
- How do you reschedule a visit, and how much notice does the company need?
If you are still deciding between regular help and a one-off job, read part-time cleaner or deep cleaning first.
If a dispute arises with a cleaning business, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) explains your options.
NEXT STEP
See home cleaning companies with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare cleaning companiesWhen to stop and walk away
Before you agree to an offer, ask yourself:
- Was the cleaner offered to you by someone else's helper?
- Is the arrangement cash only, with no company named?
- Does the person say she works for another household?
If the answer to any of these is yes, the person may be a helper whose Work Permit ties her to another employer. MOM's employment rules say a helper cannot take on work with other employers and can only work for her employer at the residential address declared to MOM.
For other warning signs when an offer looks unusually low, see cheap house cleaning red flags.
Questions
Can my neighbour's helper clean my flat on her day off?
No. MOM's FAQ says it is an offence for a foreign domestic worker to work part-time, with or without her employer's consent. Under the Work Permit conditions, she does domestic chores only for her employer, at the residential address stated on her Work Permit card. Your flat is not that address, so ask a cleaning company for part-time help instead.
Is it legal to hire a freelance cleaner who is a Singaporean?
MOM's rules covered on this page are about migrant domestic workers and the Household Services Scheme, so they do not answer this question. Whoever you hire, ask who employs the cleaner, how bookings work and what happens if a visit is missed. If a dispute arises with a business, CASE explains your options.
What is an HSS company?
An HSS company is one on MOM's list under the Household Services Scheme. MOM's FAQ on the scheme says it allows companies to hire more migrant workers to provide part-time domestic services such as home cleaning, grocery shopping, car-washing and pet-sitting. Selected HSS companies can also provide basic elder-minding. MOM says you can contact any listed company for part-time help with chores.
Can my own helper clean my parents' home?
MOM's employment rules say your helper can only work for you at the residential address declared to MOM. There is one exception: with her written agreement and after notifying MOM, you may have her care for your child or parent at a relative's house, provided she does not do the full load of housework in both households. The exception covers care, not general cleaning.
Does a home cleaning company need an NEA licence?
No. The National Environment Agency (NEA) says its Cleaning Business Licence does not apply to domestic cleaning of private homes. Businesses that provide domestic cleaning at premises occupied as a private residence, not including condo common property, do not need to be licensed. Non-domestic general cleaning, such as office cleaning or condo common areas, does need the licence.
How much does a part-time cleaner cost per hour?
Of the 26 companies that publish a part-time or regular cleaning line, 9 price per hour. Their lowest published hourly rates run from S$20 to S$24 per hour, as printed, with S$22 per hour in the middle, which is one company's rate, not an average. Several hourly lines need a minimum number of hours or bookings, and the rest use other units.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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