The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has clear guidelines for calculating a helper's salary in Singapore. Here's how it works.
According to MOM, if a helper works on an agreed rest day (excluding the one non-substitutable rest day each month), employers must pay her an extra day's wage on top of her monthly salary. The daily wage is calculated as: Monthly Salary ÷ 26 days.
Why 26 days? A standard month usually has 4 weeks, which means 4 rest days. The 26 days are the working days left after taking out these rest days.
MOM's Official Daily Wage Calculation Example: Let's say a helper's monthly salary is $650, and she works on 2 rest days that month:
- Daily Wage: $650 ÷ 26 days = $25
- Additional Payment for Rest Day Work: $25 × 2 days = $50
- Total Salary for the Month: $650 + $50 = $700
🔗 Official MOM Link on Calculating Pay-in-Lieu of Rest Day
Sunrise Link will accurately calculate your helper's daily wage and monthly payday, print standardized payroll and rest day allowance details, helping you easily manage all maid-related affairs.
Knowing this basic calculation makes other situations easier to handle. For example, when your helper needs to take unpaid leave, you can often use this daily wage calculation to deduct from her salary. If your helper takes 3 days of unpaid leave, the deduction would be $25 × 3 days = $75. This makes the payslip clear and helps avoid misunderstandings.