The ministry of manpower said the measures would "raise the quality of foreign domestic workers" in Singapore, which has cracked down on abuses against maids.

Some 150,000 foreign women work here as domestics, mostly from Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The government is tightening the rules because it expects more families to hire maids after levies were eased.

At present, the minimum age is 18 and there are no educational requirements for maids, who are brought in by employment agencies.

Officials believe young and poorly educated maids, most of them from poor Asian villages, are more prone to being abused and experiencing serious difficulties adjusting to life in a modern city.

Nearly 100 Indonesian maids have died since 1999 after falling from high-rise apartments, often while cleaning windows, and a number of employers have been jailed or fined for physical and sexual abuses against maids.

"Older (domestic workers) are generally more mature and better equipped to provide full-time domestic care for young children and elderly parents," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

"They are also more likely to be able to take care of themselves, shoulder responsibility and pose fewer management problems for employers," it added.

Government levies on hiring domestics have been lowered for families with young children, part of incentives for couples to have more babies and reverse a fall in the birth rate.

From January 1, 2005, all new foreign maids will be required to "show documentary proof that they have had eight years of formal education before they are allowed to work in Singapore."

"Entry tests will be administered to verify that new (workers) can understand basic safety instructions and have some numeracy and literacy skills to perform household tasks," the ministry added.

It expressed confidence there would be enough foreign maids who could meet the tougher criteria.


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