Maid-levy perk for singles too

I REFER to the letter by Mr Ng Kim-Gau, 'Extend relief for maid levy to singles' (ST, April 12), on maid relief for singles.

The objective of the Foreign Maid Levy tax relief is to encourage married women to continue working and raise families. Hence, it is not applicable to singles.

We have, however, extended the Foreign Domestic Worker Levy concession of $95 a month to singles who have to employ maids to look after their aged parents. Individuals can claim the concession as long as their parent, parent-in-law, grandparent or grandparent-in-law is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident aged 65 years and above and living in the same household.

HAN KOK JUAN
DIRECTOR (SOCIAL PROGRAMMES)
MINISTRY OF FINANCE