$3,200 fee to hire Indonesian maids in Malaysia

AsiaOne ^ | 07/02/2013 | AsiaOne

[TexGrill]

Another amount has been proposed for the contentious hiring fee for Indonesian maids, with the Government putting it at RM8,000 (S$3,200).

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who chaired the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants, said that the new rate was decided after considering all costs from both Malaysia and Indonesia.

"The RM8,000 was decided after considering the cost of training for at least 200 hours, documentation, food and accommodation before transfer to the new employers, travelling cost, medical check-ups as well as payment to the respective government agencies of both countries," he said at a meeting at Parliament House yesterday.

It was reported under the Memo­randum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian and Indone­sian governments in 2011, the cost to recruit Indonesian maids was set at a RM4,511 - where RM2,711 was paid by the employer and RM1,800 was paid by the domestic helper.

Muhyiddin said the changes of the structural cost would be brought for further discussion by both governments.

"The details will be explained by the Human Resources Ministry after the approval from both sides," he said.

He said the new revised rates was considered reasonable compared to the other countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong who were paying Indonesian domestic helpers at higher rates.

Muhyiddin added that the salary of Indonesian maids will not be bound by the Minimum Wages Act 2012; and will instead be based on the current market prices and the employer.

The Government, he said, will also fully suspend the Journey Perform Visa (JP Visa) in October this year.

[TexGrill]

Global business tip

[OldNavyVet]

Reminds me of historical indentured servant days ... and slavery.

[rjbemsha]

Last time my daughter returned to Tokyo from Singapore, she mentioned enviously that everyone (meaning her yuppie colleagues) had a live-in Filipina amah. “Friday nights, husband and wife have a quiet date together while the amah watches the kids,” she announced.

A good amah could really make a good living here in Tokyo, if the government would only let them in.

By the way, TexGrill, thanks for posting items with an Asian flavor.

[TexGrill]

Thanks. After Barry and Hildabeast destroy the US economy I’m providing Freepers with essential business tips when they seek to invest outside the USA.

[teacherwoes]

Foreign Domestic Helpers (nannies) in Hong Kong don’t get paid much and work 6 days a week. The come from countries like Indonesia and Philippines because they often can’t find work there. Most of the Helpers are treated like second, or third, class citizens and are looked down upon by most Chinese.