Some Singapore cleaning firms see rise in applications from maids to become cleaners

HIGHER PAY, MORE FLEXIBILITY

While specific reasons for the switch are unclear, firms said they believe higher pay and better flexibility are some factors.

On top of that, the launch of the Household Services Scheme in 2021 was also helpful for companies in securing full-time manpower.

Under the scheme, which was launched as a pilot in 2017 before being formalised, firms can hire migrant workers to provide services such as home cleaning and car washing.

The scheme was expanded in 2023 to allow companies to hire more migrant workers to provide basic care for children and the elderly.

Mr Pierre Tan, founder of MEIDE.SG, said his company has seen a nearly 10-fold increase in the number of full-time workers servicing households in Singapore.

“Before that, a lot of our cleaning companies or platforms were relying on gig workers, part-time workers, but there are quite a lot of issues with (them),” he added.

“For one, their cleaning skills are quite volatile. Some of them are really good; some of them are really just students, and they may not be that passionate about doing the cleaning.”

By hiring full-time workers under the Household Services Scheme, Mr Tan said there is a more “standardised quality” of cleaning.