Domestic worker found dead at Toa Payoh block; police rule out foul play

A 39-year-old woman, believed to be a foreign domestic worker (FDW), was found dead at the foot of Block 9, Toa Payoh Lorong 7, on the morning of 25 September 2025.

Police were alerted to the incident at about 8am. When officers and paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force arrived, the woman was found lying motionless at the foot of the block. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Singapore Police Force, preliminary investigations do not suggest any foul play.

Early findings and scene observations

Chinese daily Shin Min Daily News reported that the woman had recently started work as a domestic helper and was believed to have fallen while cleaning the windows of her employer’s home.

Reporters at the scene observed multiple police vehicles and a blue police tent set up near the foot of the block. Bloodstains were also seen on the ground close to the tent.

The woman had reportedly begun her employment only five days earlier, on 20 September.

Her employer, a 50-year-old woman working in human resources, told Shin Min that her family had been asleep at the time of the incident and only learnt of it after police arrived.

MOM guidelines on domestic worker safety

Under the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) regulations, all first-time foreign domestic workers must attend a one-day Settling-In Programme (SIP) that teaches basic safety rules and work practices.

The programme includes instructions on household chores and specific safety measures for window cleaning — an area of concern following previous fatal accidents.

MOM stipulates that domestic workers may clean the exterior of windows only under strict safety conditions: the window must be fitted with a secure grille that is locked during cleaning, and the worker must not climb out of or lean beyond the window frame.

Employers must ensure that these safety rules are followed at all times.

Legal responsibilities and penalties

Employers who fail to provide a safe working environment for their domestic workers can be fined up to S$10,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months under Singapore’s employment laws.

Those found guilty of severe or repeated safety lapses may also be permanently barred from hiring foreign domestic workers.

The Ministry of Manpower has previously emphasised that both employers and workers share responsibility for workplace safety. MOM regularly issues advisories and conducts outreach programmes to remind households of proper safety practices, especially regarding window cleaning.

Ongoing police investigation

Police investigations into the incident are ongoing. Authorities have not released the victim’s nationality pending notification of her next of kin.

Neighbours who spoke to local media expressed shock and sadness at the incident, noting that accidents involving domestic workers are rare but deeply distressing.

The case has renewed discussion over the importance of ensuring adequate safety training and supervision for domestic workers, particularly during their initial weeks of employment.