Paperwork/ legalities for local part time helper

[mellmell]

Hello,

I was wondering whether anyone knows the process you should go through hiring a local Singaporean helper but not through an agency. I have found a lovely lady who babysits and cleans and is just what we are looking for but I don't want to do anything that will get us in trouble! Is cash in hand for this sort of thing normal? As I said, she is Singaporean but I don't know how you go about becoming an employer or if there are many formalities

Very grateful if anyone knows the law/ common practice here?

Thanks!

[fritjes]

Straight up cash is fine - no need to worry about paying social security or such. You can just ask to see her identity card to be doubly sure she's legal, but otherwise there is really no paperwork associated with such type of work.

[utter tosh]

Fritjes, you are a complete idiot.

Most of this stuff mau be cash in hand, that is different to legal.

If you don't know wjat you are on about then shut up.

[west2east]

We just paid our weekly cleaning lady in cash each week, too. 

utter tosh - I think you may be the idiot... perhaps try proof reading before you post. 

[fritjes]

The SG govt has long made it public that such private arrangements are legal on a cash basis. There is no obligation on the part of the employer to report money paid or to pay CPF (or akin to W-2 and social security in the US). As long as you have exercised due diligence in NOT hiring illegals or non-eligible workers, it is absolutely above-board.

Nothing fancy like workmen's comp/OSHA either.

[cashinhand]

We just paid our weekly cleaning lady in cash each week, too. 

utter tosh - I think you may be the idiot... perhaps try proof reading before you post. 

just because you pay them cash in hand and everyone else does it doesn't necessarily mean that it is legal to do so.  

I don't think anyone is an idiot, perhaps just misinformed about it (and that includes myself).

Check out the MOM website to see if you can find out more OP.  I used to pay ours cash too and I haven't got a problem with doing that, but if you do want to do everything legally then MOM is the place to check.  However, you might find that it is actually just easier and less stressful to do it cash in hand and leave it at that, I reckon there would be all kinds of legal jargon and tax issues if you did go through the MOM, and the lady you're considering employing is probably expecting cash in hand too.

[mellmell]

Thank you everyone, that is really helpful!

[Cash in hand]

We use a twice-a-week cleaner that we found via an agency.  The agency said to pay her cash.

I think it is more important to see her identity card to make sure that she is Singaorean and entitled to work here and you are not landed in trouble for work permit issue.