My Own Nanny in Singapore

This is one of my biggest challenge this year, after obtaining Pass for my kiddo's then who looks after them when we are out digging the ground. We see several options, Child Care is a no because of high fee for infant care and sorry I am not comfortable with the idea. Flying relatives over every two months is also a no. Getting a local Nanny, one possible option. Finally, we decide why not bring our very own Nanny to stay here with us then, brilliant right, but how to get a work pass for her, and so the challenge begun....

My son was used to nanny since I had been working even then, so having a nanny is not new to us, but as much as possible we make sure we know them personally (you know the kidnapping thing) if possible relatives.

 Nanny/House Helper/Maid falls on the Work Pass (Foreign Domestic Worker) and Singapore government was strict when issuing this pass both for employee and employer as to protect both parties most specially the Maid since they are vulnerable to abuse. You can read the full facts regarding applying for FDW here at the MOM website http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/passes-visas/work-permit-fdw/before-you-apply/Pages/default.aspx

I personally do all the paper works and it save me up some hundred dollars compare on going through employment agency, and to share how I obtain Work Pass for my Nanny here is my step by step guide....
(August 2013)

New Application (never been employed in SG, Female, 23~50 year old, from approve country, with minimum 8 years formal education)

1.  SINGPASS - this is necessary to access websites for Work Pass Application as well as CPF website for levy.


2. EMPLOYERS ORIENTATION PROGRAM (EOP) - (S$40) - I took Online, the course can be finished in 3 hours, but you have the option to cut session according to your available time. Upon completion print your certificate since it will only be available online for 2 weeks after completing the course.


3. WORK PASS APPLICATION - you need your maids details specially passport and if she is married you need her husbands details. You also need to indicate your maids salary. Also, remember points to consider.


• Your Maid a Female
• Your Maid is not in Singapore
• Your Maid age is between 23~50 at the time of application
• Your Maid is note related to you or your husband (better check middle and maiden surnames)
4. Upon Approval buy 5K bond and health insurance, I bought mine in NTUC (S$307+)


5. Wait for the bond and health insurance to be transmitted to MOM for 2 to 7 days, you will know if reached MOM once you check WP Online there are already details of bond at health insurance. After that you can print out the IPA.


6. Schedule for her SIP - better have her scheduled the next day after arrival since it was strictly quoted that FWD need it "within the first three working days of their arrival in Singapore (excluding the day of arrival)" (S$75)


7. Schedule for her Medical Exam - I scheduled this one the next day after her SIP , it will take 4 to 5 days for the result.(S$50~S$60)


8. Apply GIRO arrangement for monthly Levy.


9. Email/mail the copy of IPA, Bond/Insurance and Health insurance to your maid.


10. Fly her to SG (choose your options if she will go out PH as OFW or tourist). NOTE: She need to show sa SG Immigration Officer a copy of IPA, Bond and Health insurance and will only be given 14 days visit pass.


11. Have her attend the SIP and do the Med exam.


12. When you had the result of Med Exam have her scheduled for MOM appearance for card application.


13. Wait for the card delivery.

She was given a 2 year pass validity under my employment (my name & address was stated on her work pass card) and just need to do the routine med examination every 6 months.

It is very important to note that having a maid here in SG is a way different from having a maid in PH, here she can only work for you and your family members for domestics works only, she cannot work in your store/business (in case you have one here) even sweep the office/store floor your violating the rules.

You have to give your maid a decent accommodation, toiletries, enough rest and food. Having a helper here will surely chunk a portion of your $$$ so be ready for it, but at least you have your very own nanny, but sometimes it's frustrating that my kids seem to think she was their mummy! sigh! but that is another story.

OEC or Overseas Employment Certificate, How to get one in Singapore?

One of the benefits of being an OFW and an OWWA member is you are eligible to have a Travel Exit Clearance, you got to enjoy going home free of travel tax (P1620 from Manila Airport) and terminal fee (P550 from Manila Airport). This is a lot of savings specially if you are constantly jetting from Singapore to Philippines and back. And you can also avail a  travel tax reduction if you are travelling with your dependent/s.

UPDATES (2013): Starting 5th of November 2013 POEA  introduce the Appointment System so no "walk-in application" will be entertained from the mentioned date. Here in Singapore you can book for an appointement just click at the link >>> Balik- Manggagawa Online Appointment System

Pleasse note that Philippine Embassy here in Singapore opens only on weekdays, Mondays to Fridays, 9-5 PM, close on Saturdays, Sundays, Philippines & Singapore declared holidays. OEC Issuance at Lucky Plaza Mall was already discontinued

SUGGESTION 1 : If your staying 5 days or less in the Philippines its more convenient to avail an OEC at the Airport Terminals.

SUGGESTION 2 : It your staying for more than 5 days you can also get your OEC at the following locations...

(1) POEA main office in Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City

(2) Duty Free Philippines in Parañaque City;

(3) SM-Manila near Manila City Hall; and

(4) Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

As I mentioned only OFW who have valid Working Pass, S Pass, E Pass and PEP are eligible of this perks, list of required documents includes... ( from Philippine Embassy Singpore website)

Household Service Workers

• Accomplished OFW info sheet
• Valid Employment Contract (processed by POEA or the Philippine Embassy – if there is no valid authenticated employment contract, please proceed to contract processing counter (Counter 1)
• Original Work Permit Card
• Original Passport
• Two-way ticket or Itinerary issued by travel agency
• Proof of OWWA valid membership
• Updated receipt of Pag-IBIG Fund membership contribution

S-pass/Employment Pass/Training Employment Pass

• Accomplished OFW info sheet
• Original Employment Card, S Pass, Work Permit Card
• Original Passport
• Two-way ticket or Itinerary issued by travel agency
• Proof of OWWA valid membership
• Updated receipt of Pag-IBIG Fund membership contribution

Personalised Employment Pass

• Accomplished OFW info sheet
• Valid Employment Contract (Present Company) or Certificate of Employment signed by the Employer/HR stating the contract duration
• Original PEP Card
• Original Passport
• Two-way ticket or Itinerary issued by travel agency
• Proof of OWWA valid membership (i.e. official receipt, certificate of coverage);  worth S$42.00
• Updated receipt of Pag-IBIG Fund membership contribution

You can get one or multiple OEC at the Philippine Embassy located at 20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395 for only S$3.00 with one (1) year validity from the date of issuance (subject to validity of work pass and OWWA membership)


Update:
Map with direction from Orchard MRT station to Philippine Embassy at Singapore

click photo to enlarge (from Google Map)

You can check the following link for further information.

Balik- Manggagawa Online Appointment System

OEC Requirements

OEC FAQ


SOURCE: EMBASSY OF THE PHILIPPINES SINGAPORE

OWWA Membership (Updated for 2013)

Finally, after one month I was able to squeeze in my Philippine Embassy trip, I need to register on OWWA or Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for security purposes and to avail some perks and benefits offered to us being an  Overseas Worker.

Philippine Embassy here in Singapore is located at 20 Nassim Road, a 1.20 km walk from Orchard MRT Station. I can't really describe how our embassy here looks like since they are under renovation, it was not actually a building, but a residential compound that looks like a bungalow house before. Their staff are friendly and nice, very accommodating for a question robot like me.

The process is less than 10 minutes to finish, where you have to fill-up the OWWA Information Sheet, Submit it with original Passport and IC Pass plus S$42 membership fee for the duration of employment, but not exceeding two (2) years.

Below are OWWA Programs and Services as stated on the certificate,
A. Health care, Disability and Death Benefits
B. Education and Training
C. Worker Assistance and On-site Services
D. Social Services and Family Welfare Assistance
E. Loan Guarantee Fund (still under review)

OWWA Singapore Address : 20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395
Operation Schedule   : Mondays to Fridays, 9-5 PM, close on Saturdays, Sundays, Philippines & Singapore declared holidays.

How to get there....

Click on the photo to enlarge

After OWWA Membership next is how to get OEC find it here at OEC or Overseas Employment Certificate, How to get one in Singapore?

Philippine 2010 Election Guide

Posted of My other blogs too My Simple Life andMy Life

At Exactly 25 days from now every Filipino will exercise our rights to elect national leaders and help us God to choose the one who is less corrupt, at least conscientious and economically efficient (to the country and not on their own pockets) future public officials.

2010 May Election is another history which will ink permanently in our books, may it be in good or bad point we will soon know. Since our voting procedure will evolve from manual writing of names and one-by-one counting of ballots to computerize voting involving the very much controversial PCOS machine. These aims for fast voting process, fast tallying in seconds and fast proclamation of winners.

What is PCOS machine? It is a counting machine or Precinct Count Optical Scanner so to say, I had been searching the net to find out tips on how to manipulate it este! use it, but I can't find all I gather is that  voters only involvement on this machine is feeding the ballot on it and make sure that it accepts your vote and the rest will be taken care of by PCOS technicians aka board of election inspector. They say that certain data and information should be kept in confidential for the sake of security, I really hope those codes and passwords won't leak out and PCOS software are hack-free to ensure CLEAN and HONEST.

What if a brownout occurs on May 10? Comelec ensure that there is a back-up batteries that can supply power to PCOS machine for up to 16 hours.

Since our responsibility is to choose the rightful person for the public official position I might as well share with you some guidelines I had seen on the net from Commission On Elections (COMELEC)

How To Accomplish The Ballot

1. The voter shall, using a ballot secrecy folder and the marking pen provided by the COMELEC, fill his ballot by fully shading the oval beside the names of the candidates and political party participating in the party list system of representation of his choice.

2. The voter shall then approach the PC0S machine; insert his ballot in the ballot entry slot and wait until the ballot is dropped into the ballot box. The Board of Election Inspector  shall monitor the PCOS screen to make sure that the ballot was successfully accepted. Thereafter, the voter shall return the ballot secrecy folder and marking pen to the chairman.

3. The chairman shall apply indelible ink at the base and extending to the cuticle of the right forefinger nail of the voter, or any other nail if there be no forefinger nail.

4. The voter shall affix his thumb mark on the corresponding space (beside his/her name) in the computerized voter’s list.

5. The voter shall then leave the polling place.

Click the picture to enlarge

As added Precaution please note the following;

- Check your precinct and sequence numbers on a list at the voting place days before the election to avoid hassle during election day. You can also check your precinct on COMELEC's online Registration Verification just click on the link.

-Comelec deletes names of voters who have not voted for two consecutive elections.

-Bring extra Valid Identification Card with picture and signature just in case problem arise during validation.

-Be very extra careful in marking your ballot since COMELEC issue exact number of ballot on each specific precincts. This means that you cannot commit mistake in markings or your vote will not be counted. These ballots contain bar-codes which are unique for each precinct and Ultraviolet Markings to identify fraud ones.

-Cellphones and cameras are not allowed inside the precinct.

There are lots of speculations regarding how candidates will cheat and manipulate the 2010 election, news about jammers and disc switching and it is a reality we cannot prevent those power-hungry people from doing this thing, but we can do something by voting wisely, don't be lure by those popularity measures they publish on if who is on top of those stupid surveys. Vote for the person whom you truly believe have the best intention for our country and be vigilant with your camera and cellphone, there a lots of watch station like ABS CBN and GMA these are trusted networks where you can easily text message, call, twitter or email some suspicious people or situation on your place.

References:

Commission On Elections (COMELEC)

Guide To Voting In The Automated Election 

COMELEC Online Verification