How to Properly Repatriate Your Maid at the End of Her Contract

Employers are responsible for repatriating their maid when the employment ends. 

The process can be challenging both emotionally and logistically, especially if you have a good working relationship with your maid. Here, we explain how to properly repatriate your maid at the end of her contract.

8 How to Properly Repatriate Your Maid at the End of Her Contract

1. Provide Advance Notice

Make sure to start the process by providing advance notice. Inform your maid at least 30 to 60 days in advance that her contract is coming to an end and it won’t be renewed. 

By providing advance notice, you give her ample time to make personal arrangements and prepare for her return.

2. Book Her Return Flight

How to properly repatriate your maid at the end of her contract? As an employer, you are responsible for arranging and covering all repatriation costs. Choose a reputable airline and book a direct flight to her home country.

Discuss with your maid on the date of the flight, preferences, and the amount of allowance needed to sustain herself during transit. 

Ensure that she has sufficient time to pack and say goodbye. Keep in mind that the departure date must be within 2 weeks of your maid’s Work Permit cancellation.

3. Prepare Her Travel Documents

The next thing to do is to prepare your maid’s travel documents. Confirm that her passport is valid. If it has expired, assist her in renewing it. If she is repatriated to a country other than her home country, ensure that she has the necessary visas.

4. Settle All Payments

Before she departs, you need to make sure that all financial obligations are fulfilled. These may include

• Final month’s salary
• Accrued but unused leave days
• Any agreed incentives or bonuses
• Repatriation allowance

Provide a written statement of the final settlement. Have your maid sign it as a record of agreement.

5. Cancel Her Work Permit

How to properly repatriate your maid at the end of her contract? The next step is to cancel her work permit. To cancel it, log in to the Ministry of Manpower FDW eService. Fill out the form, then print the Special Pass.

Give the pass to your maid. It allows your maid to stay in Singapore until the date of departure. Let her know that she should give the pass to immigration when leaving.

Note that the effect of Work Permit cancellation is immediate. Only request cancellation when everything is prepared so your maid can leave as scheduled.

6. Handle Belongings and Personal Matters

Give your maid time to pack and make sure that she can carry her belongings home. 

Be respectful and allow her to say goodbye to her acquaintances and/or attend church, mosque, or community centers before she departs.

7. Assist with Packing and Logistics

You can help your maid pack her items. On the day of her departure, accompany her or arrange transport to the airport. 

Make sure that she has her travel documents, ticket, boarding pass, some cash for transit, and a phone to contact family if needed.

8. Depart on Good Terms

Take time to say goodbye to your maid. Give her a verbal acknowledgement, a thank-you card, or a small farewell gift to show your gratitude and appreciation of her service.

FAQs Properly Repatriate Your Maid at the End of Her Contract

When should I inform my maid that her contract will not be renewed?

You should provide advance notice, informing her 30 to 60 days before her contract ends. This gives her sufficient time to prepare for her return and make personal arrangements.

Who is responsible for booking and paying for her return flight?

As the employer, you are legally responsible for arranging and paying for her flight ticket back to her home country. You should discuss the flight date with her and ensure she departs within two weeks of her Work Permit cancellation.

What financial obligations must I settle before she leaves?

Before she departs, you must pay her final month’s salary, any payment for accrued but unused leave days, any agreed-upon bonuses, and a sufficient allowance for her transit. It’s best to get her to sign a final settlement statement.

Conclusion

That’s how to properly repatriate your maid at the end of her contract. Repatriation isn’t easy. Yet, it is something that you are obliged to do when the contract ends. Fortunately, you can work with a maid agency to make the process easier.

Here at Your Maid Agency, a recommended maid agency in Singapore, we offer a wide range of services, which include work permit cancellation and arrangement of air tickets, among others. 

As a maid agency with good reviews, we understand that every home has different needs and strive to provide families with the right maids. If you want to learn more, visit Your Maid Agency, your trusted Bukit Timah maid agency.