Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) Singapore 2026: First-Time Maid Hiring Guide
Reviewed by Yvonne, Placement Consultant at Upwill Employment Services (MOM EA Licence 24C2628). Last updated 22 September 2026. This guide reflects MOM's published EOP requirements and provider fees as checked on that date.
TL;DR: The Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) is a paid MOM programme that first-time employers must complete before applying for a helper's Work Permit in Singapore. The online EOP takes about 2 hours and costs $29.98 to $35.65; the classroom EOP takes 3 hours and costs $34.88 to $76.30, depending on the provider and language. Finish it at least 2 working days before you submit the application.
Hiring your first migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore? Before you can apply for her Work Permit, MOM requires you to attend the EOP. It is run by MOM-appointed training providers, in the classroom or online, and it explains your role and responsibilities as an employer.
This guide walks you through exactly who needs it, what formats and fees apply in 2026, who can be exempted, and how to time it so your application is not held up.
What is the Employers' Orientation Programme?
The EOP is MOM's orientation for anyone employing a migrant domestic worker in Singapore for the first time. MOM describes it as a programme that helps employers understand their role and responsibilities as an employer of a helper. It is delivered by appointed training providers, not by MOM directly, and you register on the provider's website.
Source: MOM: Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP).
Who needs to complete the EOP?
- First-time employers. MOM states that if you are a first-time employer of a helper, you must attend an EOP before you can apply for a Work Permit (MOM employer requirements).
- Employers who change helpers often attend a different session. Since 15 November 2024, if you are employing your 4th helper or more within a 12-month period, you must attend the CONNECT Workshop run by the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore), not the EOP. It costs $80, is held face to face, and MOM will not process your application until you attend. Your IPA application has a validity of 21 days to complete it (MOM frequent change employer FAQ, PDF).
- Repeat employers. MOM's requirement is framed around first-time employers. If you have employed a helper before and are unsure whether you need to attend again, check with MOM or your agency before you apply.
Online vs classroom EOP: formats and fees in 2026
MOM lists three appointed providers. Fees below include GST, as published by MOM:
| Provider | Online EOP (about 2 hours) | Classroom EOP (3 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| AAT Training Hub | $35.65 (all languages) | $35.65 (all languages) |
| Absolute Kinetics | $32.70 (all languages) | $34.88 to $59.95 (by language) |
| Grace Management | $29.98 (all languages) | $54.50 to $76.30 (by language) |
Languages offered include English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, with availability varying by provider. Classroom sessions run in the evening, 6pm to 9pm. Fees and schedules are set by the providers and can change, so confirm on MOM's EOP page before you book.
What is covered in the EOP?
The programme is built around your responsibilities as an employer. MOM does not publish a detailed syllabus. The core duties MOM sets out for every helper employer include:
- Your legal duties. Paying her salary on time (no later than 7 days after the end of each salary period), the monthly levy, the $5,000 security bond and the compulsory medical and personal accident insurance.
- Her rest days and well-being. One rest day a week, with at least one rest day a month that cannot be compensated away.
- Where and how she may work. Only domestic work, only at the address you declared to MOM.
- Safety and communication. Safe work practices and how to handle problems before they escalate.
For the rules themselves, see MOM's salary guidelines, rest days and well-being and employment rules.
How to complete the EOP: 2026 step-by-step
- Open MOM's EOP page and choose one of the appointed providers.
- Pick online or classroom, and your language, then register and pay on the provider's website.
- Complete the programme and keep the certificate of attendance the provider gives you.
- Wait at least 2 working days after completing the EOP before you submit the Work Permit application.
- Submit the application through MOM's FDW eService (or ask your agency to do it for you).
Can someone else attend for me? Exemptions and representatives
MOM allows an employer to apply for exemption and have a sponsor, spouse or representative attend instead, where the employer:
- has a chronic medical condition, has a physical disability and is unable to walk, or is 60 or older and suffers physical discomfort; or
- is a new or expectant mother, with delivery within 1 month of the application; or
- has a sponsor or representative above 21 years old who has attended the EOP, or a sponsor or sponsor's spouse who has employed a helper before.
The representative must attend at least 2 working days before the exemption application. You apply through MOM's Apply for exemption from EOP eService with Singpass (agencies use Corppass). Once the exemption is approved, you can proceed with the Work Permit application one working day later. Keep the representative's certificate of attendance and supporting documents for at least 3 months, as MOM may audit them.
EOP vs SIP vs medical exam: clearing up the confusion
Three requirements get mixed up constantly. Here is a clean comparison:
| Programme | Who attends | When | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOP (Employers' Orientation Programme) | Employer | At least 2 working days before submitting the Work Permit application | Online about 2 hours, or classroom 3 hours | $29.98 to $35.65 online; $34.88 to $76.30 classroom |
| SIP (Settling-In Programme) | First-time helper | Within 7 days of arrival in Singapore (excluding Sundays and public holidays), not on arrival day | In person, 1 day, in her native language | $76.40 to $92.65 depending on provider (employer pays) |
| Medical examination | Helper | Within 14 days of arrival | Clinic visit | Set by the clinic (employer pays) |
Simple rule: the EOP is for you; the SIP and the medical exam are for your helper. Sources: MOM on the SIP and MOM on applying for a Work Permit.
When should you complete the EOP?
Do the EOP at least 2 working days before submitting your Work Permit application, as MOM requires. A good moment is the week you start shortlisting helpers, so the EOP is already done when the required documents are ready and the application goes in.
After you apply, MOM processes FDW eService applications within 1 week unless more information is required, and charges $35 on application and $35 when the permit is issued.
Common questions about the EOP
Can my spouse complete the EOP on my behalf?
Only through MOM's exemption route. If you meet one of MOM's conditions (for example a chronic medical condition, being 60 or older with physical discomfort, or delivering a baby within 1 month of the application), your spouse, sponsor or representative can attend and you apply for exemption online.
Is the EOP free?
No. Online EOP fees range from $29.98 to $35.65 and classroom fees from $34.88 to $76.30, including GST, depending on the provider and language.
Can I do the EOP online?
Yes. All three appointed providers offer an online EOP of about 2 hours, in all languages they support.
I have changed helpers several times this year. Do I retake the EOP?
If this is your 4th helper or more within 12 months, MOM requires the CONNECT Workshop run by the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) instead. It costs $80 and your application will not be processed until you attend.
What if I do not have Singpass?
MOM's FDW eService is for employers with Singpass. Employers without Singpass can submit the Work Permit application form instead, which MOM processes within 3 weeks for most cases, or ask their agency to submit.
Skip the paperwork.
Upwill walks first-time employers through EOP, IPA, and the full hiring flow. Book a 20-min consult at upwill.com.sg/contact.
Next steps after the EOP
Once you have your EOP certificate:
- Use our cost calculators to budget the full hiring spend including levy, insurance, and agency fees.
- Review the hiring timeline so you know what comes next.
- Sort out helper insurance before the Work Permit is issued.
- Check your FDW levy rate: $300 a month for your first helper, or $60 a month if you qualify for the concession (MOM).
- Read our first-time employer FAQ for everything else.
- If you are unsure about biometric upload, we have a separate walkthrough.
The EOP is a small hurdle in the bigger hiring process, but skipping it stalls everything else. Get it out of the way early and the rest of the Work Permit flow runs smoothly.