What happens if my maid runs away? Finding that your maid is nowhere to be found can be worrying and distressing. This is especially true if your household needs support. There are also laws and regulations that you have to be concerned about.
The good news is, there are things you can do to protect yourself legally and financially.
Below, we have a list of things you can do to manage the situation promptly and responsibly.
Checklist Happens If My Maid Runs Away
1. Confirm the Situation
Just because your maid went out doesn’t mean she is missing. Sometimes, maids go out for errands or because they need space.
So, don’t jump to any conclusion yet. Try to confirm the situation first.
The first thing to do is to check your maid’s room. See if her belongings are still there.
If they are, chances are she will come back. If they are not, try to reach out to her by calling her mobile phone. You should also check your valuables to see if there is anything missing.
2. Check Around the Surroundings
What happens if my maid runs away? After you’ve confirmed that she is really missing, the next thing to do is to check around the surroundings. Check with your neighbors or your neighbors’ maid if they have last seen your maid or if they have any idea of her whereabouts.
Search around your estate to see if your maid is roaming around. If you know your maid’s friends, you should call them to check.
3. File a Police Report
If you have checked around the surroundings and she is nowhere to be found, file a police report immediately. Go to the nearest police centre or call the police hotline.
Provide all necessary details such as your maid’s full name, foreign identification number, passport number, last known whereabouts, as well as any belongings she may have taken.
4. Inform the Ministry of Manpower
You need to inform the Ministry of Manpower about the situation as soon as possible. Ideally, within 7 days. You can inform MOM through the FDW eServices portal or by calling the hotline.
You may need to cancel the work permit. Doing so will formally record the case and protect you from further financial and legal liabilities.
5. Contact the Maid Agency
If you hired your maid from a maid agency, contact and inform them about the situation. Agencies have dealt with such situations before. They should be able to provide necessary assistance. They also help fill vacancies.
6. Finding Replacement
What happens if my maid runs away? The situation can be quite overwhelming, especially so if you rely on her for household management, childcare, or elderly care.
When your maid runs away, your household is left without support. You need to find a replacement as soon as possible.
You can arrange a backup by asking your relatives or hiring part-time help.
This will allow you to deal with the situation without worrying about your household. It is, however, a temporary solution.
A more permanent solution will be hiring a maid from a reputable maid agency with better screening.
FAQs Checklist Happens If My Maid Runs Away
What’s the first thing I should do if I think my maid has run away?
First, confirm she is truly missing. Check if her belongings are gone, try calling her phone, and ask neighbors if they have seen her to make sure she hasn’t just stepped out.
When and how should I report this to the authorities?
If you cannot find her, file a police report immediately. After that, you must also inform the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) as soon as possible, ideally within 7 days.
Why is it crucial to report to MOM and cancel the Work Permit?
Reporting the incident to MOM and cancelling her Work Permit officially protects you from any legal and financial liability for her actions after she has run away.
Conclusion
What happens if my maid runs away? While the situation is certainly unsettling, acting promptly and responsibly will protect you legally and financially.
Always treat your maid fairly and kindly, maintain proper documentation, and work with a reputable maid agency to minimize the risk of such incidents.
At Status Maids, a leading maid agency in Singapore, we provide reliable maids.
We offer clients the opportunity to interview candidates, thus allowing them to see if any of the candidates meet their requirements and will fit their household.
Our maid agency in Tanjong Pagar offers a wide range of maid hiring services, from direct hiring and medical checkups to maid insurance purchase and repatriation. For more information from what many consider the best maid agency, check out Status Maids.