MOM-Approved Maid Agencies in Singapore: A 2026 Buyer's Guide for Employers

Searching for a list of MOM-approved maid agencies in Singapore is one of the first things most employers do — and one of the most misunderstood. There is no single ranked “top agencies” list issued by the Ministry of Manpower. What MOM does publish is the Employment Agencies Directory, a complete register of every licensed EA permitted to place a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW, now formally “Migrant Domestic Worker” or MDW) in Singapore. Whether an agency belongs on your shortlist depends less on marketing claims and more on a small set of verifiable signals you can check yourself in under ten minutes.

This guide walks you through exactly how to verify an agency's MOM EA Licence, the seven quality signals that separate stable agencies from risky ones, and the red flags that should end a conversation immediately. We use Upwill (EA Licence 24C2628) as one example throughout, but the framework applies to every agency you might consider.

1. What “MOM-approved” actually means

Every business that places a migrant domestic worker with a Singapore household must hold a valid Employment Agency (EA) Licence issued by the Ministry of Manpower. This is not optional, not interchangeable with being “registered with ACRA”, and not the same as being “accredited” by a trade body. Without the licence, the agency is operating illegally — and any work pass application it submits on your behalf is invalid.

An EA Licence number follows the format XXX1234X — three digits indicating the year of issue, four digits as the running number, and a final alphanumeric character. Upwill's licence, 24C2628, decodes as a licence issued in 2024, category C (comprehensive EA permitted to place MDWs), running number 2628. Every legitimate agency must display its EA Licence number on its website, contracts, and physical premises.

Crucially, the licence is held by the company — but every individual EA Personnel handling your case must also hold a Certificate of Employment Intermediaries (CEI) at Basic or Key Appointment Holder level. You are entitled to ask for the EA Personnel Registration Number of whoever counsels you.

2. How to verify an EA Licence yourself in 5 minutes

Do not take an agency's word for it. The MOM EA Directory is public and searchable:

1. Go to mom.gov.sg and navigate to Employment Practices → Employment Agencies → Employment Agencies Directory.
2. Search by either EA Licence Number (most precise) or EA Name.
3. Confirm the licence is currently valid (not lapsed or suspended) and that the business address matches.
4. Check the Demerit Points tab — any agency over 6 points in a rolling 12-month window is in warning territory.
5. Note the Key Appointment Holder (KAH) — this is the person legally accountable.

If an agency's listing doesn't appear, or the address looks like a residential unit with no signage, walk away. For a deeper walk-through of comparing shortlisted agencies, see our companion piece on how to review and choose a maid agency in Singapore in 2026.

3. Seven quality signals that go beyond the licence

Holding an EA Licence is the floor, not the ceiling. The following seven signals separate a stable, accountable agency from one you'll regret six months in.

1. CaseTrust accreditation (CTC scheme). CaseTrust for Employment Agencies, run by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), is a voluntary consumer-protection standard. Accredited agencies must meet stricter disclosure, deposit-safeguarding, and complaint-handling requirements than MOM's baseline.
2. AEAS membership. The Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) is the industry trade body. Membership signals peer-reviewed conduct and participation in ongoing professional development.
3. Years in operation. Five-plus years through at least one major MDW policy cycle (e.g., the 2023 source-country shifts) indicates operational resilience. A two-month-old EA Licence isn't disqualifying, but the burden of proof on other signals is higher.
4. Public demerit-point record. The MOM EA Demerit Points System is published. Zero points over the last 24 months is what you want to see.
5. Transparent fee disclosure. A reputable agency will give you a written, itemised fee schedule before you sign anything — agency fee, MDW loan structure, insurance, medical, settling-in programme, airfare. See our full breakdown of what it costs to hire a maid in Singapore in 2026.
6. In-house training. Look for documented training on infant care, eldercare, dementia, cooking modules, or specific medical needs — not just a generic orientation.
7. Replacement guarantee in writing. Industry norm is one free replacement within six months. Anything shorter than three months, or only offered verbally, is a downgrade.

4. Red flags that should end the conversation

• Active demerit points or recent suspension. Check the directory before your first meeting.
• Refusal to issue an in-principle service agreement for your review before payment.
• Fees demanded upfront before any bio-data is shared. Bio-data review should be free.
• Vague or evasive answers about MDW accommodation during the in-Singapore interview window — this is regulated.
• Pressure tactics (sign today or she's gone) — a reputable EA never operates this way.
• No physical office or an office you can't visit.
• Cash-only payment with no receipt or invoice on company letterhead.

5. The MOM EA Demerit Points System, explained

MOM operates a points-based enforcement system to track EA misconduct. Points accumulate over a rolling 12-month window for offences such as misrepresenting MDW information, charging unauthorised fees, failing to refund security bonds, or breaching advertising rules.

• Up to 6 points — warnings and compliance actions.
• 12 points or more — licence suspension or non-renewal.
• Serious offences (e.g., illegal kickbacks, MDW exploitation) — immediate revocation and prosecution.

You can see each EA's current point standing in the same directory you used to verify the licence. Treat this as a primary filter, not a footnote.

6. What CaseTrust adds beyond an EA Licence

The CaseTrust for Employment Agencies (CTC) accreditation is the consumer-protection layer on top of MOM's regulatory floor. It requires accredited EAs to:

• Provide a written, standardised service agreement covering fees, refund terms, and replacement guarantees.
• Safeguard customer deposits through a structured payment regime — money is not released to the agency in a lump sum upfront.
• Operate a formal complaint-handling and mediation process, with CASE as escalation.
• Undergo periodic audits and re-accreditation.

CaseTrust is voluntary, so its absence is not a deal-breaker — but its presence is meaningful evidence that the agency has chosen to be held to a higher bar.

7. Direct hire vs. through an EA — when each makes sense

Singapore permits direct hire — applying for an MDW's Work Permit yourself without going through an EA. It can save the agency fee (typically S$1,500–S$3,500), but you take on every responsibility yourself: source-country recruitment compliance, medical screening, insurance, security bond, settling-in programme booking, contract drafting, and ongoing dispute resolution.

Direct hire works well when you are rehiring a known MDW (e.g., a transfer from a friend's household, or a returning helper from a previous stint with you). For first-time employers, or when sourcing fresh from Indonesia, the Philippines, or Myanmar, an EA's source-country network, screening, and post-placement support usually outweigh the fee. Read our criteria for hiring a maid in Singapore in 2026 before deciding.

8. Twelve questions to ask before you sign

1. What is your full EA Licence number, and may I see the certificate?
2. What is the EA Personnel Registration Number of the counsellor handling my case?
3. Can you provide a written, itemised quotation today?
4. What is the replacement guarantee — duration, conditions, and how many replacements are included?
5. Are you CaseTrust accredited? If not, why not?
6. What languages does the counsellor speak (especially relevant for Bahasa or Burmese-speaking MDWs)?
7. How do you screen MDWs at source — medicals, criminal record, prior employer references?
8. What in-house training does the MDW receive before placement?
9. What does post-placement support look like in months one, three, and six?
10. How do you handle disputes — internal mediation, AEAS, or CASE?
11. Are you arranging the S$5,000 security bond and MDW insurance, or am I?
12. Will you walk me through the FDW levy and any concessions I may qualify for?

9. About Upwill

Upwill is a MOM-licensed employment agency in Singapore (EA Licence 24C2628) specialising in MDW placement for infant care, eldercare, and general household roles. We publish itemised fees up front, issue a written service agreement before any payment is taken, and offer a standard six-month replacement guarantee. If you'd like to see how our process maps against the checklist above, our maid placement service page details each step from bio-data shortlisting through post-placement support.