Employers in Singapore have been urged to upgrade insurance policies for their foreign domestic workers, especially the medical and personal accident covers.

According to financial consultant Lai Chien-ming, more than 90% of Singaporean employers purchase only the bare minimum in insurance for their maids. These insurance policies cost around SGD200-SGD300 and have average cover duration of 26 months, Lai told Chinese-language daily Lianhe Wanbao.

The basic medical coverage amount of SGD15,000 a year required by the Ministry of Manpower covers only in-patient care and surgery costs while the domestic worker is in Singapore.

In order to include general outpatient consultations, employers are encouraged to get medical insurance plans with a coverage of at least SGD40,000. This would translate to an additional SGD100 in premiums per month, according to an employment agency.

On October 1, the Ministry of Manpower increased the minimum personal accident insurance coverage for domestic workers to SGD60,000, up from SGD40,000.


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