Home Leave for Indonesian FDW (?s)

[ExpatMom]

I have an Indonesian Foreign Domestic Worker and will be sending her on Home Leave while we are on our Home Leave next month. I need any advise on what additional documents I need for her. There are many postings on Home Leave procedures for Philipino FDWs but I can't seem to find any for Indonesian FDWs.

Our Helper has been with us for 10 months and still has a valid work permit, along with passport and "red" health card given to her by Indonesian Agency. We just went to the Indonesian Embassy and had her passport endorsed with my address to avoid exit tax in Indonesia.

Is there anything else I need to do? Should I give her a copy of her Health Insurance/Bond or Contract? The M.O.M. website just lists that the FDW needs her valid work permit and passport to reenter but nothing else. I'm thinking there must be more to do since the Philipino FDWs have so many forms just to go on Home Leave.

Thanks for any help.

[ksl]

I have an Indonesian Foreign Domestic Worker and will be sending her on Home Leave while we are on our Home Leave next month. I need any advise on what additional documents I need for her. There are many postings on Home Leave procedures for Philipino FDWs but I can't seem to find any for Indonesian FDWs.

Our Helper has been with us for 10 months and still has a valid work permit, along with passport and "red" health card given to her by Indonesian Agency. We just went to the Indonesian Embassy and had her passport endorsed with my address to avoid exit tax in Indonesia.

Is there anything else I need to do? Should I give her a copy of her Health Insurance/Bond or Contract? The M.O.M. website just lists that the FDW needs her valid work permit and passport to reenter but nothing else. I'm thinking there must be more to do since the Philipino FDWs have so many forms just to go on Home Leave.

Thanks for any help.

It's pretty straight forward for Indonesian maids to take leave, just ensure that she takes her work permit with her, otherwise she will not be allowed to leave Singapore/Indonesia. Our maid was stopped while going through to the departure lounge and sent back becuase she didn't have her work permit, so it was a mad rush to return home and retrieve it. Let her take copies of the work contract too!

Also make sure you have the return ticket to save money on the maids trip and not a Single, the maid must know the date she is going to return!

You can also claim back 1 months levy while she is on holiday for that month, my wife did!

[ExpatMom]

Thanks for the reply. I wanted to list an update after purchasing a ticket for my FDW at Garuda Airlines at United Square. I was having difficulty purchasing ticket online because you have to be traveling on the ticket to use your credit card. I called into Garuda Customer Service and they told me a whole proceedure to follow including forms to download and send in to allow the purchase with credit card for another person. Well, it didn't work so I went to the office. VERY GOOD IDEA.

The Garuda office was so helpful and I ended up getting a cheeper fare than booking online because of a promotional offer. Also I was able to use AMEX in the office but can't online. Since I went into the office it was no longer necessary to fill out release forms. While at the office the agent informed us of a NEW CARD that ALL Indonesian FDWs must have to re-enter Singapore on their way back. This new process just started January 2011 and since my FDW started work in January she actually was already given this card when she flew over the first time.

The Card your Indonesian Helper will need is issued in Indonesia and is called "Overseas Worker's ID - Card". This along with the Passport and Work Permit are needed to return. My understanding is the Card is only issued in Indonesia and if your Helper/FDW arrived prior to January 2011 she will not have this and will need to get it when she goes home.

Hope this helps someone else.

[kimora]

what if you are travelling with your FWD from Indonesia to Thailand on holiday? as long as she has her work permit - she should be able to re-enter? cant find any info online for this simple question.

[the lynx]

what if you are travelling with your FWD from Indonesia to Thailand on holiday? as long as she has her work permit - she should be able to re-enter? cant find any info online for this simple question.

Yes she is allowed. That work permit is already a embarkation/disembarkation card by itself for Singapore (which means she still needs to fill up the ones for the destination country).

But do check if she requires visa in the destination country. Different visa procedures may apply between you and her.