Rest Day Rules for Domestic Helpers in Singapore (2026): Days Off and Compensation

Rest days are one of the most common sources of misunderstanding between employers and helpers. How many days off must she get? Can you pay her to work instead? What can she do on her day off?

This guide sets out Singapore’s rest day rules for domestic helpers in plain English, with practical tips for agreeing rest days that work for your household.

The rules in short

• Your helper is entitled to a weekly rest day.
• She may agree to work on some rest days in exchange for compensation of at least one day’s salary for each one.
• Since 1 January 2023, at least one rest day every month must be a real day off. It can’t be replaced by compensation, even if she agrees.
• She can choose to spend her rest day at home, and it is still a rest day.
• A rest day can be deferred by up to one calendar month, if you both agree.

The monthly rest day rule was introduced by the Ministry of Manpower to make sure every helper gets proper time to rest and recharge. Neither the employer nor the helper can opt out of it.

Compensation in lieu: if she works on a rest day

If your helper agrees to work on a rest day (other than the one compulsory rest day each month), MOM says you must compensate her with at least one day’s salary for each rest day she works. This is an extra payment on top of her basic salary, not part of it (MOM: rest days and well-being).

If she can’t take a rest day in a particular month, for example because of a family event, you can agree to defer it by up to one month instead.

Write it down. Record each rest day she works and how she was compensated. A simple monthly record signed by both of you, together with her salary record, protects you both. Our printable salary template has space for this.

How to agree rest days

The best time to agree rest days is before she starts:

• How many rest days a month she will take, and how many (if any) she is willing to work for compensation
• Which day of the week: many helpers prefer Sunday, when friends are free and church services are on
• What time her rest day starts and ends: for example, from 8am to 8pm. Agree this rather than leaving it vague.
• What happens on public holidays

Put the agreement in her employment contract. Our contract generator includes a rest day section.

What she can do on her rest day

Her rest day is her own time. She may meet friends, go to church or the mosque, attend courses, or simply stay in and rest. You shouldn’t:

• Ask her to finish chores before she can leave
• Ask her to “just watch the kids for an hour” on her day off without agreeing compensation
• Set unreasonable curfews or demand to know everything she does

It’s reasonable to ask her to let you know roughly when she’ll be back, and to agree house rules on safety, such as not bringing guests home.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Counting a half day as a rest day. A rest day is a full day off.
• Paying her off every rest day. At least one rest day a month must be taken as rest.
• Changing her rest day at short notice. Agree changes with her; she may have plans.
• No written record. Without records, a disagreement about rest days becomes your word against hers.

Happy, rested helpers stay longer and do better work. Many families find that a predictable weekly rest day is the simplest way to keep a good helper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many rest days must a domestic helper get in Singapore?

A weekly rest day. She may agree to work on some of them for compensation, but at least one rest day every month must be taken as a real day off.

Can my helper choose to work on her rest day for extra pay?

Yes, except for the one compulsory rest day each month. You must pay her at least one day’s salary, on top of her basic salary, for each rest day she works.

Does my helper get public holidays off?

Domestic helpers don’t have a legal entitlement to public holidays off. Many employers give them anyway or pay extra. Agree this in the contract.

What if my helper wants to stay at home on her rest day?

That’s her choice, and it still counts as a rest day. Don’t ask her to do housework while she’s at home on her day off.

Can I change my helper’s rest day?

Yes, if she agrees. A rest day can also be deferred by up to one month by mutual agreement.