< FAQ's >
SAFETY AWARENESS COURSE
< FDW >
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Q. Are foreigners who bring in their own Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) required to attend Safety Awareness Course?
A. Yes, as long as the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) is working in Singapore for the first time, she will have to attend the Safety Awareness Course.
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Q. Can the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) sit for the Entry Test and attend the Safety Awareness Course on the same day?
A. Yes, as long as there are available classes. The National Safety Council (NSC) is offering a through-train programme that allows the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) to sit for both the Safety Awareness Course and Entry Test within one day.
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Q. How are the three working days for Safety Awareness Course calculated?
A. Working days are from Monday to Saturday and does not include Sunday and Public holiday. The three working days also excludes the day of arrival for first-time Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs). See example:

Illustration:
If the FDW arrives on 21 April (Friday), she is required to fulfill the following entry requirements by 25 April (Tuesday):
(i) submit her educational certificate;
(ii) pass the Entry Test; and
(iii) complete the Safety Awareness Course.
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Q. How can employers check if their Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) must attend the Safety Awareness Course?
A. Employers can check if their Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) is required to attend the Safety Awareness Course via WP Online.
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Q. How can my Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) attend Safety Awareness Course?
A. All first-time Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) are required to attend the compulsory Safety Awareness Course (SAC) within the first 3 days after their arrival in Singapore.
Employment agencies/ employers should register the FDWs for the SAC before they arrive in Singapore. Employment agencies/ employers are advised to ensure that the same set of FDWs' identification numbers and all other personal particulars (e.g. name, date of birth) provided on the Work Permit application and SAC registration forms is identical. Failure to do so may result in the FDW's Work Permit application being rejected because attendance of the SAC has not been captured. They are to contact the Training Providers directly for registration.
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Q. How do I ensure that the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) will be able to complete both the Safety Awareness Course and Entry Test requirements within the first three working days of her arrival?
A. Registration and confirmation of slots for both the Safety Awareness Course (SAC) and Entry Test should be done before the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) enters Singapore. To facilitate the registration process, you may wish to register the FDW for an SAC cum Entry Test package. The National Safety Council (NSC) is offering a through-train programme that allows the FDW to sit for both the SAC and entry test within one day.
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Q. How much does the Safety Awareness Course cost?
A. The Safety Awareness Course course fee is $20 and the fee is borne by the employer.
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Q. How will employers know whether their Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) is required to attend the Safety Awareness Course?
A. The Work Permit system keeps a record of employers and their employment history. The system will identify which Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) are new to Singapore. Employers and Employment Agencies (EAs) will be informed of this requirement in the 'Letter of Notification to bring FDW into Singapore'.
Employers can also check if their FDW is required to attend the Safety Awareness Course via WP Online.
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Q. What happens to Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) who do not attend the Safety Awareness Course?
A. Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) who fail to complete the course within the 3 working days of their arrival (excluding the day of arrival) will be repatriated.
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Q. What is the Safety Awareness Course?
A. This raises the safety awareness of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) who may be unaccustomed to their new environment in Singapore. It highlights safety hazards that Foreign Domestic Workers may encounter when performing household chores and provides advice on the necessary safety precautions to observe.
FDWs are also given orientation tips on settling into their new environment and how to relate to their employers. This will help FDWs to be more well-adjusted to perform their tasks safely and better.
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Q. What languages is the Safety Awareness Course being taught in?
A. The Safety Awareness Course is conducted in English, Bahasa Indonesia and Burmese. These are the native languages of the majority of Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) here. However, interpreters are available for FDWs of other native languages.
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Q. When should Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) attend the Safety Awareness Course?
A. First-time Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) are required to attend the Safety Awareness Course (SAC) within three working days of their arrival (excluding the day of arrival). FDWs who fail to complete the SAC within the stipulated timeframe will be repatriated.
Employment Agents (EAs) should only place FDWs for employment after they have passed the test. The EA is also responsible for the FDW's upkeep and maintenance, including the provision of proper accommodation, from her arrival until she is successfully placed for employment, or until she is repatriated if unsuccessfully placed. The EA is required to repatriate the FDW, and bear the cost of doing so, if she is unsuccessfully placed.
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Q. Who are the training providers for the Safety Awareness Course and where is it conducted?
A. The Safety Awareness Course is conducted by the National Safety Council of Singapore at 10 Raeburn Park S(088702).
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Q. Why must Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) attend the Safety Awareness Course?
A. Many Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) come from rural areas in their home countries are not used to urban living. The Safety Awareness Course highlights safety hazards that Foreign Domestic Workers may encounter when performing household chores and provides advice on the necessary safety precautions to observe.
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Q. Will existing Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) or FDWs who have previously worked in Singapore, be required to attend the Safety Awareness Course?
A. All first-time Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) who have never worked in Singapore before will be required to attend the Safety Awareness Course. Existing FDWs or FDWs who have prior working experience in Singapore also are encouraged to.
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