Written Answer to PQ on Source country restrictions for foreign confinement nannies

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1260 OF 2026 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 10 SEPTEMBER 2026
QUESTION NO. 2901 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Ms Diana Pang Li Yen

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) how often does the Ministry review the source-country restriction for foreign confinement nannies; (b) why are Work Permits currently limited to Malaysian nannies; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider allowing suitably qualified nannies from other countries, subject to appropriate training and necessary safeguards.

Answer:

1. The Confinement Nanny scheme was established to meet Singaporeans’ demand for Malaysian confinement nannies to provide short-term post-partum care services.

2. Our assessment is that the current arrangement is sufficient to meet the needs of households. As such, we have no plans to expand the scheme to other source countries. Households who wish to hire confinement nannies from other countries can already do so through the Migrant Domestic Worker scheme.