Is the Employer Orientation Programme free in Singapore?

Yes. EOP is completely free for the employer. Delivered online through mom.gov.sg using your Singpass login, takes ~90 minutes, produces a digital certificate at no cost. SIP costs S$75 and is paid by the employer for the helper.

What is the difference between EOP and SIP in Singapore?

EOP is for the employer — online, 90 min, free, before Work Permit application. SIP is for the helper — in-person, one day, S$75, within 3 working days of her arrival. Separate, both mandatory, one does not replace the other.

How long is my EOP certificate valid in Singapore?

Two years from completion. Start a Work Permit application more than two years after passing EOP and MOM will require you to retake it. Also re-triggered if your last MDW Work Permit was 5+ years ago.

Do I need to redo EOP if I am hiring my second helper?

Only if your last MDW Work Permit was 5+ years ago, or your existing EOP certificate is older than 2 years. Within both windows, no retake. Changing nationality does NOT trigger a retake.

What happens if I do not complete EOP before applying for the Work Permit?

MOM's system auto-rejects the Work Permit application. Your agency cannot bypass this. Fix: complete EOP (~90 min), resubmit. No penalty beyond the delay.

Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) & SIP Singapore 2026: The Complete First-Time Employer Guide

By Upwill Editorial Team•MOM-licensed agency • EA Licence 24C2628

Reviewed by Wendy Tan, Director, Upwill Pte Ltd

Published: 20 May 2026

Last updated: 20 May 2026 · Reviewed by Wendy Tan, Upwill Employment Pte Ltd (EA Licence 24C2628)

If you are about to hire a migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore for the first time — or for the first time in more than five years — the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires you to complete the Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) before your Work Permit application will even be accepted. Your helper will separately need to complete the Settling-In Programme (SIP) within three working days of arrival in Singapore. The two are constantly confused, and getting either wrong delays your hiring by weeks.

This guide walks you through everything: what EOP actually is, how it differs from SIP, the 90-minute completion process, the four video modules, the six-question quiz that catches employers off guard, the 5-year refresher rule, and the common mistakes that get Work Permit applications auto-rejected.

Singapore employer completing the MOM Employer Orientation Programme online via Singpass on a laptop — EOP is a free, 90-minute online course MOM requires before your first MDW Work Permit application.

1. What is the Employer Orientation Programme (EOP)?

The EOP is a free, online, MOM-administered course that every first-time MDW employer in Singapore must complete before applying for a Work Permit. Delivered through mom.gov.sg, takes ~90 minutes, produces a digital certificate auto-linked to your Singpass. MOM introduced it because the most serious welfare cases traced back to employers who genuinely didn't know what the law required.

EOP is mandatory for: all first-time MDW employers, returning employers with a 5+ year gap, and MOM-flagged refresher cases. Valid 2 years.

2. EOP vs SIP — Two Different Programmes, Constantly Confused

EOP: for YOU. Online. Free. 90 min. Before Work Permit application.
SIP: for the HELPER. In-person. 1 day at an MOM-approved centre. S$75. Within 3 working days of her arrival.

Both required, one doesn't replace the other. See criteria to hire a maid in Singapore 2026 for the eligibility tests before either programme matters.

3. When EOP Is Required

First-time employer.
Five-year gap since last MDW Work Permit.
Expired certificate (older than 2 years).
MOM-directed refresher.

Note: switching helper nationality does NOT trigger EOP. The trigger is time + prior employer history. For transfers within the 5-year window, see our helper transfer guide.

4. How to Complete EOP in 90 Minutes

Set aside a quiet 90-min window. Session progress isn't reliable — do it in one sitting.

mom.gov.sg → Services → For Employers of Foreign Workers → Employer Orientation Programme.
Login with personal Singpass (not corporate).
Watch 4 video modules (15-20 min each). No fast-forward.
Pass 6-question quiz (multiple choice). Retry on fail.
Download certificate.

5. What EOP Covers — The Four Modules

Four EOP module topics: rest days, salary, food and accommodation for Singapore MDW employers — The four EOP modules each unpack one core employer obligation under MOM rules.

Module 1 — Rest Days. One per week mandatory. See rest day rules.
Module 2 — Salary. Pay within 7 days of period end. Itemised payslip. No breakage deductions.
Module 3 — Food. Three meals/day, suitable for her diet. See food allowance 2026.
Module 4 — Accommodation. Adequate, safe, private space. See accommodation standards.

6. What SIP Is — The Helper's Side

Migrant domestic worker attending in-person Settling-In Programme session at an approved SIP centre in Singapore — SIP is an in-person, one-day briefing for the helper at an MOM-approved centre.

SIP is a one-day in-person session at one of ~12 MOM-approved centres. First-time MDWs must attend within 3 working days of arrival. S$75 paid by the employer. She's taught her rights, safety (especially the high-rise window cleaning ban), stress management, and cultural orientation. Employers don't attend. Your agency typically books the slot.

7. Common Employer Mistakes

Not completing EOP before WPOL application — #1 mistake, auto-rejection.
Certificate expired (over 2 years).
Confusing EOP with SIP.
Missing the 3-working-day SIP window.
Using corporate Singpass.

Complete pre-application checklist in our first-time maid employer checklist.

8. The 5-Year Refresher Rule

If your last MDW Work Permit ended 5+ years ago, MOM treats you as first-time again. Clock runs from cancellation date, not departure date.

9. The Hidden Quiz — What to Expect

Scenario-based questions. Common wrong answers: salary deductions (NEVER for breakage), rest day comp (one extra day's salary not double-time), window cleaning (exterior banned above ground floor), passport custody (cannot hold), sleeping arrangement (balcony NOT acceptable).

10. After EOP — What Happens Next

Agency submits Work Permit via WPOL.
MOM issues IPA in 1-3 working days.
Helper travels to Singapore.
Within 3 working days: SIP attendance.
6-monthly medical examination.
Work Permit card issued.

Reviewed by Wendy Tan — Upwill Employment Pte Ltd, MOM EA Licence 24C2628. Wendy has guided over a thousand Singapore households through their first MDW Work Permit application. Last reviewed 20 May 2026.