There are about 250,000 foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore. It is estimated that around 1 in 5 Singaporean homes employ a maid in order to complete daily tasks. Maid insurance such as ePROTECT maid not only give financial coverage to you, the employer, but also offers benefits for your maid when unfortunate incidents happen. Here, we list 5 situations in which maid insurance can be beneficial.

1. When personal accident happened

Just like any insurance, ePROTECT maid provides coverage, in this case up to S$70,000, for any accidental death, permanent disability, injury or any medical expenses due to personal accident.

“That seems excessive. Maids are usually professional. They’ll be alright.”

But imagine this… your maid is taking your children out for a stroll, when suddenly, a fatal car crash occurs. Unfortunately, this tragedy actually happened at Lentor Avenue in 2019. It resulted in the death of a beloved foreign domestic worker. According to Singapore Police Force, there were 7,690 road accidents in 2018. And Singapore has a road fatality rate of 2.73 per 100,000 citizens, which is higher than London, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

On top of that, there were at least three cases of maids falling from windows while doing daily tasks in 2019 alone. 2012 recorded the highest number of fatal falls, which is seven cases altogether. Let’s not forget other minor accidents such as cuts or burns that even we would experience, let alone a maid – someone who spends majority of her time cooking and doing household chores.

2. When hospitalisation and surgeries are needed

Medical bills can cost up to S$1,150 per day for public hospitals and S$5,400 per day for private hospitals in Singapore. At Tiq by Etiqa, ePROTECT maid provides coverage for up to S$15,000 per year to ensure that your maid gets the best medical attention and recovery during her time in need.

With ePROTECT maid, you also get wages and levy reimbursement, and daily benefits to help you hire alternative supports during your maid’s recuperation. Claims are easy to make, too. Any reimbursement will be paid directly to the person of interest, be it the employer, the maid, or the maid’s next-of-kin.

3. When there is abuse

FDWs has increased from 201,000 to 255,800 in Singapore over the past decade. With this, comes the increase of societal problems such as violence and theft. The problem stems from poor living conditions, lack of training by the maid agency or financial problems. There are also many high profile cases of maids being abused by their employers. It’s reported that 6 out of 10 FDW’s are abused yearly. Therefore, it is always recommended to foster a good relationship with your maid in order to establish mutual understanding. This will create a more harmonious living condition.

Since we cannot predict other people’s behaviour, you need to be prepared when the worst happens. Maid insurance aims to provide coverage for maid’s liability such as injury, damages or theft done by your maid. If the employer has a TiqConnect account with Etiqa, they may go online to submit the claims and all financial matters for faster processing. You can read more about the protection benefits here.

4. When going through termination and rehiring process

Based on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) 2019 reports, only 1 out of 3 FDWs completed their contracts, with the other 2 out of 3 being terminated before. This is due to accidental deaths, permanent disabilities or any frictions experienced with their employers. MOM is looking for ways to improve the livelihood of FDWs and ensuring better matches for employers.

However, in the event of termination, ePROTECT maid insurance provides reimbursement to the employer for re-hiring purposes. We free you from paying the required Security Bond by serving as your Guarantor and providing a Letter of Guarantee to MOM. Hence, saving you from the worries of spending more money on the Security Bond.

5. When it is time to say goodbye

You’d want to give the best to your maid. This includes sending them back home following an unfortunate incident. According to MOM, employers have to bear the full cost of sending their maids home when the employment relationship ends. But with ePROTECT maid, the repatriation expenses are covered in the event of injury, sickness, death or permanent disablement.

Welcome, please make herself at home

MOM is constantly resolving any issues regarding FDWs, and improving their safety and well-being. Any maid agency must provide professional safety training for maids before they can be employed. Your maid works hard to give their best service, so why not do something in return for them? Help make them comfortable with these tips on how to settle your maid in and get the best maid insurance protection so that she can give her best in taking care of your home today.

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Information is accurate as at 10 January 2020. This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Company Reg. No. 201331905K). Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.

Tiq by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd.

A digital insurance channel that embraces changes to provide simple and convenient protection, Tiq’s mission is to make insurance transparent and accessible, inspiring you today to be prepared for life’s surprises and inevitabilities, while empowering you to “Live Unlimited” and take control of your tomorrow.

With a shared vision to change the paradigm of insurance and reshape customer experience, Etiqa created the strong foundation for Tiq. Because life never stops changing, Etiqa never stops progressing. A licensed life and general insurance company registered in the Republic of Singapore and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Etiqa is governed by the Insurance Act and has been providing insurance solutions since 1961. It is 69% owned by Maybank, Southeast Asia’s fourth largest banking group, with more than 22 million customers in 20 countries; and 31% owned by Ageas, an international insurance group with 33 million customers across 16 countries.

Discover the full range of Tiq online insurance plans here.