Quick answer: The agencies worth visiting first are We Are Caring for ethical, no-deduction hiring, Apex Employment Agency for long-term matches and transferred helpers who settle in fast, and First Maid Pte Ltd for an 85% retention rate and a wide pool of nationalities. Families with very young or elderly members often lean towards Thumbs Up or Inter Great.
This sits inside Best Cleaning, Repairs & Handyman in Singapore, alongside 20 related guides.
Finding the right helper can feel like a full-time job of its own—sifting through profiles, worrying about fit, wondering if she will stay long enough that the kids stop asking why their aunty changed again. A good agency takes most of that weight off, quietly. The seven here each do it a little differently, and one of them probably fits how your household actually runs.
Apex Employment Agency
Apex Employment Agency has been doing this since 2004 from a ninth-floor office at Far East Shopping Centre on Orchard Road. What catches attention is their 65% rate of transferred helpers—women who already know how a Singapore household works and do not need weeks to find their footing. That alone cuts out a lot of the early anxiety for a family who cannot afford a long runway.
They draw from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Myanmar, and they are particular about long-term compatibility, not just filling a seat. Some placements have quietly run past the 25-year mark, which tells you more than any brochure could.
- Address: 545 Orchard Road, #09-01, Far East Shopping Centre, Singapore 238882
- Phone: +65 6268 5522 | +65 8714 9472 | +65 9626 2994
- Hours: Mon–Fri 10:13am–7:13pm, Sat & Sun 10:13am–5:13pm
If you have been through a few helpers and just want someone who stays, this is the kind of place that makes you feel less like you are gambling. They are strong for families who value stability over speed.
Universal Employment Agency
Universal Employment Agency has been around for more than 30 years, operating out of Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road. Their retention rate sits above 70%, and they keep a ready pool of transfer helpers—people who are already on the ground, documents sorted, available to start. For a household that just lost their helper and is staring at a calendar full of meetings and school runs, that speed matters.
Their placements come mainly from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Myanmar, and they put real weight on cultural alignment. A match here is less about ticking boxes and more about whether the helper will genuinely gel with the family rhythm. The agency fee reflects that older, more established outfit pricing, but the matches tend to stick.
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- Address: 304 Orchard Road #03-52, Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863
- Phone: +65 6735 3456
- Hours: Mon–Fri 10am–7pm, Sat & Sun 10am–5pm
Visit Universal Employment Agency
This is the steady, no-drama pick for a family that wants someone who has been vetted by a team that has seen it all. If you value experience over novelty, walk in and have a chat.
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We Are Caring
We Are Caring set up shop on Killiney Road with a model that is genuinely different: no salary deductions and no placement fees for the helper. That matters if you believe a helper who feels treated fairly from day one is more likely to treat your parents or children the same way. Their process is digital-first—profiles, references, and video interviews come to you before you even step out of the house.
The screening is rigorous and the paperwork moves fast, which suits a household that runs on a tight schedule. They are closed on Saturdays and public holidays, so plan your visit for a weekday or Sunday.
- Address: 61 Killiney Road, Level 2, Singapore 239522
- Phone: +65 3163 4636
- Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–1pm, 2pm–6pm; Sun 9am–1pm, 2pm–5pm. Closed Sat & PH.
Choose them if the ethics of how a helper is hired sits high on your list. It is the agency for someone who wants the paperwork clean and the conscience clear, without giving up on quality.
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Thumbs Up Employment Agency
Thumbs Up Employment Agency works out of Excelsior Shopping Centre and leans hard into personalised matching for families with very specific caregiving needs—elderly, infants, children. If you are trying to find someone who can manage an ageing parent’s medication schedule while keeping the house humming, they are worth the trip.
Their helpers come from Indonesia and Myanmar, and they handle new, experienced, transfer, and direct hires. The matching process is more art than assembly line. They ask the kind of questions that feel intrusive until you realise it is what stops a bad fit three months in.
- Address: 5 Coleman Street #B1-21, Excelsior Shopping Centre, Singapore 179805
- Phone: +65 8821 4292
Visit Thumbs Up Employment Agency
Best for a family where caregiving—not just cleaning—is the main brief. If your helper will spend more time with a vulnerable person than you can, their careful matching buys you real peace of mind.
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First Maid Pte Ltd
First Maid Pte Ltd sits inside Katong Shopping Centre and posts an 85% retention rate—one of the highest on this list. That number alone pulls in a lot of families who are tired of restarting. Their database spans Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, which gives you more options if you are looking for a particular language or cooking style.
They put their helpers through proper training before placement, and their customer service team does not disappear once the contract is signed. For a family in the East, the Mountbatten Road location is convenient, and they open Sundays too.
- Address: 865 Mountbatten Road, Katong Shopping Centre #02-68, Singapore 437844
- Phone: +65 8488 7603
- Hours: Mon–Fri 10am–7pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm
Go with First Maid if retention is your top worry and you want a wider nationality mix to choose from. They are a solid, all-rounder for a family that just wants the hire to stick.
Inter Great Employment Agency
Inter Great Employment Agency has been running for 11 years from branches in Ang Mo Kio, Katong, and Bugis. They specialise in caregivers for infants, the bedridden, and the elderly—this is not a generalist shop. Their transfer rate is just 0.98%, and their retention rate is 65.51%, which earned them the Singapore 500 Enterprise Award.
They offer bilingual helpers, video interviews, and after-sales support, and their matching process covers employers and maids from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar. If you are in a HDB estate and prefer not to travel to town, their Ang Mo Kio branch at Block 726 is a practical stop.
- Addresses: AMK: Blk 726 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 #01-4152, Singapore 560726 | Katong: 865 Mountbatten Road #01-12, Katong Shopping Centre, Singapore 437844 | Bugis: 175 Bencoolen Street #01-06, Burlington Square, Singapore 189649
- Phone: AMK +65 8339 7419 | Katong +65 8299 0026 | Bugis +65 9729 0639
- Hours: Mon–Sat 10:30am–8pm, Sun & PH 10:30am–6:30pm
Visit Inter Great Employment Agency
Pick Inter Great if caregiving for a medically fragile person is non-negotiable. Their numbers say they get it right the first time, which is what you need when there is no room for error.
Jforce Employment Service
Jforce Employment Service runs three branches—Boon Keng, Ang Mo Kio, and Jurong East—and opens every day including Sundays and public holidays. Their 66.96% retention rate sits above the industry average, and they are known for moving fast: shortlisting, medical checkups, repatriation, embassy endorsements, all under one roof.
They are one of the few agencies offering Cambodian helpers, which can be a useful option if you are working within a tighter budget without wanting to compromise on quality. Their WhatsApp line (+65 8310 8988) makes first contact easy for someone who prefers to type rather than call.
- Addresses: Boon Keng: 23 Bendemeer Road #01-515, Singapore 330023 | AMK: Blk 725 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6 #01-4140, Singapore 560725 | Jurong East: 345 Jurong East Street 31 #01-13, Singapore 600345
- Phone: WhatsApp +65 8310 8988 | Boon Keng +65 6635 2506 | AMK +65 6909 2213 | Jurong East +65 6909 7782
- Hours: Mon–Fri 10am–8pm, Sat, Sun & PH 10am–5:30pm
Visit Jforce Employment Service
Jforce works for the family that needs a helper yesterday and cannot wait until Monday to start looking. The weekend hours and multiple locations make it practical for someone juggling shift work or a packed calendar.
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How to choose
Start by being honest about what you really need. A family with a new baby and a family caring for a bedridden parent are looking for two very different skill sets—one needs patience and energy, the other needs clinical experience and the emotional steadiness to handle long, quiet days. Tell the agency the hardest part of the role, not just the chores list.
Then look at where the helpers come from. Different nationalities bring different language strengths, cooking traditions, and cultural comfort zones. A household that eats mainly Indian food at home will have a different shortlist from one that cooks Peranakan dishes. A good agency should be able to tell you honestly which nationality pool fits your kitchen best.
Retention rates and transfer rates are useful signals, but ask what sits behind the number. A high retention rate can mean good matching; it can also mean the agency is picky about which employers they accept. A high transfer rate is not always bad—sometimes it just means they are the go-to for helpers already in Singapore who need a new placement quickly. Ask what happens in the first six months if things do not work out, and get the replacement policy in writing.
Price-wise, agency fees in Singapore typically range from about $1,000 to over $3,000 depending on the helper’s experience, nationality, and whether she is a new or transfer hire. A lower fee is not always a bargain if it means thinner screening; a higher fee should come with deeper support after placement. Always ask what the fee covers—medical insurance, security bond, training, replacement coverage—and what it does not.
Comparison at a glance
| Agency | Known for | Helper origins | Retention / transfer rate | Caregiving focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Employment Agency | Long-term matches, 65% transfer helpers | Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar | Some bonds span 25+ years | General household |
| Universal Employment Agency | 30+ years, 70%+ retention | Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar | Retention >70% | General household |
| We Are Caring | No salary deductions, digital process | Check with the business | Check with the business | General household |
| Thumbs Up Employment Agency | Elderly, child & infant care | Indonesia, Myanmar | Check with the business | Elderly, children, infants |
| First Maid Pte Ltd | 85% retention, five nationalities | Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines | 85% retention | General household |
| Inter Great Employment Agency | Low transfer rate, bilingual helpers | Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar | 0.98% transfer, 65.51% retention | Infants, bedridden, elderly |
| Jforce Employment Service | Weekend hours, Cambodian options | Cambodia, plus others | 66.96% retention | General household |
Summary
Each of these seven agencies earns its place by doing the matching well, not by rushing it. Whether your priority is ethics, caregiving experience, or simply finding someone who will still be with your family next year, there is a desk here worth sitting across. Take your time asking questions—the right agency will welcome them.
Disclaimer: All details here were accurate at the time of writing. Operating hours, fees, and helper availability can shift, so confirm directly with the agency before making a decision.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a maid agency in Singapore typically charge?
Agency fees generally fall between $1,000 and $3,000-plus, depending on the helper’s experience, nationality, and whether she is a new or transfer hire. Always clarify what the fee includes—medical insurance, security bond, training, and replacement terms can vary a lot between agencies.
What is the difference between a new helper and a transfer helper?
A new helper arrives from her home country with no Singapore experience and usually needs more onboarding time. A transfer helper is already in Singapore and looking for a new employer, so she understands local routines faster and can start sooner.
Which maid agency is the most ethical in Singapore?
We Are Caring stands out for its model that takes no salary deductions or placement fees from the helper. For households that care about fair employment from day one, this is a meaningful point of difference.
How long does placement usually take?
A transfer helper can often start within days. A new helper from overseas typically takes several weeks to a couple of months, depending on paperwork, medical clearance, and training. Agencies like Jforce and Universal Employment Agency are known for faster turnarounds with their ready transfer pools.
What should I look for if I need a helper mainly for elderly care?
Look for agencies that specialise in caregiving, not just general housekeeping. Thumbs Up Employment Agency and Inter Great Employment Agency both focus on elderly and infant care, with matching processes that account for medical needs, language fit, and the temperament to handle long caregiving hours.
Which agency has the highest retention rate?
Based on the numbers shared, First Maid Pte Ltd reports an 85% retention rate. Universal Employment Agency reports over 70%, and Jforce Employment Service sits at about 67%, all above the industry average. High retention often signals good matching and solid after-placement support.
