CCTV cameras in the home are a divisive topic among Singapore employers. Learn the legal boundaries, ethical considerations, and best practices for using surveillance cameras while maintaining trust with your domestic helper.

The Bottom Line: Smartphone distraction and social media live-streaming among Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) in Singapore have become a primary source of employer conflict. While the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) mandates no explicit legal bans on phone usage, employers face severe liability and safety risks when caregivers prioritize platforms like TikTok over actively watching toddlers or vulnerable elderly family members. Managing this requires a structured household agreeme

This template is designed to help our customers navigate the delicate balance between maintaining a supportive relationship and establishing safe, respectful boundaries for their helper. Please feel free to amend this agreement to best suit your household’s unique situation. Sample mobile phone and social media agreement for domestic helpers in Singapore, outlining permitted usage zones, times, and privacy boundaries, seen on a table with a pen and phone against a backdrop of

Phone usage is arguably the single most contentious, highly debated topic in Singapore's employer circles. Because the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has no explicit legal regulations dictating exactly how phone access should be managed, it is left entirely up to house rules. This creates an ongoing tug-of-war between employer surveillance and a helper's personal freedom. When employers and agencies discuss domestic helper phone rules online, the conversation typically divides