A jobseeker or household may meet an employment agency through an advertisement, messaging app, referral or storefront. English matters because agency name, licence, registered personnel, service type, placement record, fee, refund and payment recipient are separate claims that must be matched before money or identity documents move.
People searching MOM employment agency directory, licensed maid agency Singapore, check recruitment agency licence or employment agency fees need more than a logo check. MOM’s current EA Directory lets the public find employment agencies for foreign workers, migrant domestic workers and local workers, compare service quality and performance, and see agencies listed under revocation, suspension or surveillance.
MOM also says successfully registered EA personnel receive a registration number, appear in the directory and must be issued a prescribed registration card that they show to clients and allow clients to note. The directory is therefore useful for matching both the business and the person—but a copied identity can still be used in a false channel.
This article does not recommend an agency, calculate a lawful fee for a particular case or promise a placement. It teaches a recruitment-literacy bundle: independently verify identity and status, read the written service agreement, separate performance indicators from guarantees and confirm where payment is actually going.
WORK LITERACY · VERIFY RECRUITMENT INTERMEDIARIES
Verify the agency, person, service and payment channel
A directory match is a strong starting point only when it belongs to the same people and transaction you are dealing with.
Open the complete section index
- Start at MOM’s official directory
- Copy the exact legal agency name
- Match the licence number and status
- Verify the individual EA personnel
- Match the worker category
- Read the risk-status tabs
- Understand performance indicators
- Read the written service agreement
- Separate employer fees from worker fees
- Verify the payment recipient
- Protect identity and work-pass documents
- Record promises and changes
- Use MOM feedback routes for concerns
- Keep checking after initial contact
- Worked examples
- Practice studio
- Advice for students, parents and mentors
- Frequently asked questions
- Useful next reading
Official sources and the date boundary
The factual floor comes from current Ministry of Manpower employment-agency pages and e-services. Live directory status and current rules control a transaction.
- MOM: Employment Agencies and Personnel Search
- MOM EA Directory
- MOM: Employment agencies
- MOM: Register employment agency personnel
- MOM FAQ: employment agencies
- MOM: customer ratings for MDW-placing agencies
These official pages were checked on 22 October 2026. Live interfaces, lists, contact details and procedures can change. Reopen the official source before acting, and keep the publication or update date visible.
Did You Know? MOM’s directory is not limited to company names. It can be used for agencies serving foreign workers, migrant domestic workers and local workers, and registered EA personnel have their own registration information.
1. Start at MOM’s official directory
Navigate from mom.gov.sg or the official EA Directory instead of trusting a link supplied by the recruiter.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In start at mom’s official directory, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A message claims an agency is licensed and links to a look-alike directory.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Check government domain; Open official service; Avoid copied login; Record check date.
Boundary: A screenshot of a result can be edited or outdated. Source-first habits protect job and school searches. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Check government domain
- Open official service
- Avoid copied login
- Record check date
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
2. Copy the exact legal agency name
A trading style and licensed legal name may differ. Capture both before searching.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In copy the exact legal agency name, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: An advertisement uses a short brand while the invoice names another company.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Copy brand; Copy legal name; Copy licence number; Mark mismatch.
Boundary: Similar words or shared logos do not establish common identity. Legal-name literacy supports contracts. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Copy brand
- Copy legal name
- Copy licence number
- Mark mismatch
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
3. Match the licence number and status
Read the directory result for the same agency and current status rather than stopping at name recognition.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In match the licence number and status, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A caller gives the name of a real agency but a different licence number.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Search name; Search licence; Read status; Resolve conflict.
Boundary: A valid listing does not authenticate an unrelated caller. Multi-field matching supports research quality. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Search name
- Search licence
- Read status
- Resolve conflict
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
4. Verify the individual EA personnel
Ask for the person’s name and registration details and compare them with the directory and prescribed card.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In verify the individual ea personnel, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A recruiter says only the company needs to be licensed and refuses to identify themselves.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Ask full name; Ask registration number; View card; Match directory.
Boundary: Do not photograph or publish identity details beyond what is needed for the transaction. Person-versus-organisation thinking supports workplace governance. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Ask full name
- Ask registration number
- View card
- Match directory
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
5. Match the worker category
The directory supports agencies for different worker groups. Ensure the service offered aligns with the agency information.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In match the worker category, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A household assumes strong local-placement data proves experience with migrant domestic workers.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Name worker type; Read service category; Check relevant record; Ask specific questions.
Boundary: Performance in one category cannot be silently transferred to another. Category control helps course and career comparison. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Name worker type
- Read service category
- Check relevant record
- Ask specific questions
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
6. Read the risk-status tabs
MOM says agencies to avoid can be found under revocation, suspension or surveillance in the directory.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In read the risk-status tabs, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: An agency’s ordinary profile is shared without its current risk status.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Open risk tab; Search exact agency; Read status date; Stop if unclear.
Boundary: Do not rely on an old saved result for a current payment decision. Status-date reading supports licences and safety alerts. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Open risk tab
- Search exact agency
- Read status date
- Stop if unclear
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
7. Understand performance indicators
Placement volume, retention or ratings describe recorded performance; they do not promise an individual outcome.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In understand performance indicators, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A high rating is advertised as a guarantee that a particular placement will succeed.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Name metric; Read period; Read population; Avoid guarantee.
Boundary: A metric is only meaningful within its definition and date range. Data literacy transfers to school results and careers. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Name metric
- Read period
- Read population
- Avoid guarantee
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
8. Read the written service agreement
Identify the service scope, parties, fee components, refund terms, responsibilities and dispute route before signing.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In read the written service agreement, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A fee is described verbally but not clearly allocated in the agreement.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Name parties; List services; List fees; Read refund.
Boundary: This guide cannot interpret a disputed contract or decide legal rights. Clause mapping supports employment contracts. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Name parties
- List services
- List fees
- Read refund
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
9. Separate employer fees from worker fees
Ask who is being charged, for which service and under which current MOM rule or agreement term.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In separate employer fees from worker fees, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A household and a worker each assume the other is responsible for the same amount.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Name payer; Name service; Name amount; Check current rule.
Boundary: Fee rules can depend on role and facts; verify the current MOM guidance. Party-and-payment mapping strengthens financial literacy. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Name payer
- Name service
- Name amount
- Check current rule
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
10. Verify the payment recipient
The account or payee should align with the documented transaction and independently verified agency channel.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In verify the payment recipient, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A real agency name appears on the directory, but the recruiter asks for transfer to an unrelated personal account.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Read payee name; Compare invoice; Call official number; Pause on mismatch.
Boundary: A directory entry does not validate every bank instruction sent in its name. Recipient-name checking supports safer digital payments. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Read payee name
- Compare invoice
- Call official number
- Pause on mismatch
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
11. Protect identity and work-pass documents
Send only necessary documents through an independently verified route and understand why each is requested.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In protect identity and work-pass documents, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A chat account asks for passport scans before the agency or personnel has been verified.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Verify first; Ask purpose; Use secure route; Redact when appropriate.
Boundary: Do not send altered documents or conceal material facts. Data minimisation supports education and career records. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Verify first
- Ask purpose
- Use secure route
- Redact when appropriate
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
12. Record promises and changes
Keep advertisements, biodata, service descriptions, substitutions, fee changes and signed variations with dates.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In record promises and changes, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A promised service changes after the first payment and only a voice note remains.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Save original; Confirm change in writing; Version files; Keep receipts.
Boundary: A record does not itself prove a remedy, but it preserves the transaction story. Version control supports group projects. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Save original
- Confirm change in writing
- Version files
- Keep receipts
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
13. Use MOM feedback routes for concerns
MOM’s EA page points to online feedback for possible infringements. Organise facts before reporting.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In use mom feedback routes for concerns, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: A client has a directory mismatch and a payment request but writes only a broad accusation.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: State agency; State personnel; Attach evidence; Describe requested action.
Boundary: Report facts honestly and avoid public defamation or speculation. Evidence-based complaints support civic communication. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- State agency
- State personnel
- Attach evidence
- Describe requested action
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
14. Keep checking after initial contact
Licence status, personnel, terms and payment instructions should still align at signing and payment, not only at first enquiry.
The MOM EA Directory is an identity, licence and performance-information tool. In keep checking after initial contact, the agency, outlet, licence, registered personnel, worker category, service record, risk tab and payment recipient remain distinct. A real agency name can still be copied into an unrelated chat or invoice.
Recruitment decision: Weeks pass between shortlist and deposit, but no one rechecks the current listing.
Make a verification bundle before sharing documents or paying: exact agency name, licence number, outlet or address, personnel name and registration number, worker type, service agreement, fee line, refund term, receiving account and date checked. Search through MOM’s official route, then contact the agency through independently obtained details when the message channel does not align.
Directory sequence: Recheck before signing; Recheck before paying; Match final personnel; Save dated result.
Boundary: A previous match cannot guarantee a later channel remains genuine. Repeated verification supports long projects and procurement. A directory match does not guarantee a placement, worker suitability, fair outcome or honest conduct in every transaction. Current MOM rules, a written service agreement and transaction-specific advice control the real decision.
A four-line working note
- Recheck before signing
- Recheck before paying
- Match final personnel
- Save dated result
Write one sentence that preserves the source, object, finding and next action. Then ask what the document does not establish. That second sentence is often where mature comprehension appears.
Worked examples
Example 1: Real agency, false caller
The agency appears in MOM’s directory, but the caller’s number and payment account do not match the agency’s independently verified channel. The client stops and calls the official contact.
Reading lesson: A true business identity can be borrowed by an impersonator.
Example 2: Metric without a guarantee
A household compares retention and placement data for the relevant period but does not treat the highest figure as a promise about one worker or household.
Reading lesson: Performance information supports questions, not certainty.
Example 3: Personnel mismatch
The person handling the case cannot be matched to the registration information provided. Documents and payment wait until the discrepancy is resolved.
Reading lesson: Verify the individual as well as the agency.
Employment-agency verification lab
Identity bundle
Compare a fictional advertisement, card, directory result and invoice.
- Agency
- Personnel
- Licence
- Payee
After the exercise, explain which single word or field changed the decision. If the answer is “none”, the source may not yet contain enough evidence to act.
Metric translation
Turn three fictional performance figures into careful sentences.
- Define metric
- State period
- State limit
- Ask next question
After the exercise, explain which single word or field changed the decision. If the answer is “none”, the source may not yet contain enough evidence to act.
Advice for students, parents and mentors
For students and jobseekers
Never pay or send identity documents as part of a classroom exercise. Use fictional records.
Learn to verify both the organisation and the person representing it.
For families and employers
Read the service agreement before payment and keep every receipt and written variation.
Use current MOM pages and seek qualified advice for a real dispute or uncertain fee.
For educators
Teach directory fields, performance-metric limits, contracts and payment-channel verification without rating real agencies.
The goal is not to make a young person afraid of every official page. It is to make careful checking feel normal, achievable and quietly empowering. English becomes useful when it helps someone pause, verify, ask a precise question and choose a proportionate next step.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOM EA Directory?
MOM’s search service for licensed employment agencies and personnel, with service and performance information.
Which worker categories can I search?
MOM lists foreign workers, migrant domestic workers and local workers including Singaporeans and permanent residents.
Where can I see agencies to avoid?
MOM points users to the directory’s revocation, suspension and surveillance tab.
Should EA personnel have registration information?
MOM says successfully registered personnel receive a registration number and appear in the directory.
Can I ask to see the personnel card?
MOM says agencies must issue registered personnel a prescribed card and personnel must show it to clients and allow them to note the information.
Does a directory match prove the bank account?
No. Verify the payment recipient and invoice through the agency’s independently obtained official channel.
Do ratings guarantee a placement?
No. Read the metric definition, period and limitations.
What if the licence status changes?
Use the live directory immediately before signing or paying and follow current MOM guidance.
Is this legal or fee advice?
No. It is a verification and reading guide; current rules and individual facts control.
Why does English matter?
Because agency, person, category, metric, agreement, fee and payee must align without being collapsed into one reassuring name.
Useful next reading
Continue with verified eduKate guides on employment records, entity checks and safer payment decisions.
- How English Works — the broad reading, writing and communication map
- Why English? Asking Better Questions in Class — how precise questions turn uncertainty into learning
- Why English? Reading Course and Career Information — how document reading supports education and work decisions
- Reading an ACRA Bizfile Entity Search — how business identity fields support a second check
- Checking the PayNow Recipient Name — how to pause at the final payment screen
- Preparing a TADM Salary Claim — how employment evidence becomes a dated claim record
Recruitment English protects choices when the licensed agency, registered person, relevant service, written fee and receiving account all belong to the same verified transaction.