After two years away from her own family, most helpers look forward to going home — and how you handle that trip says a lot about the kind of employer you are. But home leave in Singapore is often misunderstood: who pays for the flight, whether it's paid time off, and when it's supposed to happen. This guide clears it up, so you can plan it fairly and without friction.

Is Home Leave Required in Singapore?

There's an important distinction here. Foreign domestic workers are not covered by the Employment Act, so there is no statutory MOM rule forcing a fixed amount of annual home leave the way there is for office staff. Rest days are governed separately (see our rest day rules guide).

What usually governs home leave is the employment contract and the rules of her home country:

  • Filipino helpers: The Philippine standard employment contract typically requires the employer to provide a return air ticket to the Philippines on completion of the contract (or for home leave). This is a common condition of hiring through a POEA/POLO-aligned agency.
  • Indonesian, Myanmar and other helpers: It depends on the agency contract you signed. Many include a home-leave air ticket at the end of each 2-year contract; some don't. Check the contract you actually signed.

So the honest answer is: home leave itself isn't a fixed legal entitlement, but a paid return ticket is very often a contractual obligation — read your contract before assuming either way.

When Does Home Leave Usually Happen?

  • At the end of a 2-year contract: The most common point. Many helpers take home leave before re-contracting, then return to the same employer. (See our contract renewal guide.)
  • Mid-contract, by agreement: Some employers allow a shorter trip home partway through. This is entirely by mutual agreement.
  • Family emergencies: A death or serious illness back home. Handling these with compassion — even when inconvenient — builds enormous loyalty.

Who Pays for the Flight Home?

This is the question that causes the most confusion. The answer comes down to your contract:

  • If your contract (or her home country's rules) requires an employer-provided ticket, you pay — usually a return ticket for home leave, or a one-way ticket if the employment is ending (see transfer or repatriation).
  • If there's no such clause, the cost is a matter of negotiation. Many employers still cover or share it as a goodwill gesture, especially for a helper who has served well.

A few practical notes:

  • Return vs one-way: Home leave = return ticket (she's coming back). Ending the contract = one-way ticket home.
  • Book early: Peak periods (December, Hari Raya, home-country holidays) get expensive fast.
  • Keep it reasonable: A standard economy ticket to her home city is the norm — not premium fares.

Is She Paid During Home Leave?

Generally, home leave is unpaid — she isn't working during that period, so no salary accrues unless you've agreed otherwise. That said:

  • Some employers choose to pay all or part of her salary during a reasonable home leave as a gesture of appreciation. It's optional, but it's remembered.
  • You cannot quietly deduct the cost of her ticket, levy, or "lost time" from her salary to claw it back. Salary deductions are tightly limited by MOM (see our salary deduction guide). Treating the ticket as a hidden loan against her pay is exactly the kind of move that destroys trust.

Covering the Gap While She's Away

A week or two without your helper can be disruptive. Plan ahead:

  • Front-load and simplify: Do a deep clean before she leaves and lower the household bar while she's gone.
  • Temporary help: Some families arrange part-time cleaning for the gap. (Do not borrow another employer's helper — that breaches Work Permit conditions.)
  • Keep her job secure: Make it clear her role is waiting for her. Anxiety about whether she still has a job is a needless cruelty.

Making It Fair

Home leave is one of those moments where a little generosity pays back for years. A helper who feels her need to see her family is respected — and who comes back to a secure job and a clean handover — is a helper who stays, and stays committed. The cost of a fair ticket is far less than the cost of constant turnover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a maid get annual home leave in Singapore?

There is no statutory MOM rule giving foreign domestic workers a fixed amount of annual home leave, because they aren't covered by the Employment Act. In practice, home leave is governed by the employment contract and her home country's rules — most commonly taken at the end of each 2-year contract. Many contracts, especially for Filipino helpers, require the employer to provide a return air ticket.

Who pays for the helper's flight home?

It depends on your contract. If the contract or her home country's standard terms require an employer-provided ticket (common for Filipino helpers), you pay — a return ticket for home leave, or a one-way ticket if employment is ending. If there's no such clause, it's negotiable, though many employers cover or share it as goodwill.

Is home leave paid or unpaid in Singapore?

Home leave is generally unpaid, since the helper isn't working during that time, unless you've agreed otherwise. Some employers pay part or all of her salary during a reasonable trip home as a gesture of appreciation. You cannot secretly deduct the ticket cost or "lost time" from her salary — MOM strictly limits salary deductions.

Can I give cash instead of a flight ticket?

If your contract requires an air ticket, the cleaner approach is to provide the ticket itself, or pay the equivalent fare with clear written agreement. Some employers and helpers agree on a cash equivalent if she wants to defer her trip. Put any such arrangement in writing so there's no dispute later.

How HelperMate Helps

HelperMate keeps the handover smooth when your helper takes home leave:

  • Shared task lists so you can pause or reassign routines while she's away
  • A clear record of schedules to pick right back up when she returns
  • 10-language support so expectations before and after the trip are understood exactly

A well-planned home leave means she comes back rested — and your household barely skips a beat.

Download HelperMate on Google Play → | App Store →

This guide reflects common practices among Singapore families. Always check the specific employment contract you signed and current MOM guidance. This article is for informational purposes only.