Fee to hire maids doubles

REASONABLE COST: Most of memorandum's security provisions to remain in place

MALAYSIANS will most likely have to pay more for Indonesian maids, with the fee expected to cost RM8,000.

This will be almost double the RM4,511 initially agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Malaysia and Indonesia in 2011.

However, the salaries of the Indonesian maids would be determined by market prices and the employer instead of falling under the Minimum Wages Act 2012.

Announcing this yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the new fee took into account costs for training, travel documents, food and boarding before the maid was placed with an employer, travel expenses, medical checks and fees for agencies in Indonesia and here.

The revised amount, however, would be negotiated between the two governments before being approved by the Indonesian government.

"Details of the structural costs will be announced by the Human Resources Ministry soon after both countries have both consented to the changes," he said after chairing a cabinet committee meeting on foreign workers and illegal immigrants yesterday.

Muhyiddin noted that the revised costs were still reasonable compared with other countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Middle Eastern nations.

He hoped that the decision would expedite the implementation of the MoU to ensure the supply of maids would not be disrupted.

Muhyiddin said most of the memorandum's security provisions would remain in place, such as the six-month maid replacement guarantee period.

He said the salary of Indonesian maids would not be bound by the Minimum Wages Act 2012 and would be based on current market prices and the employer.

Foreign maid agencies had previously objected to the RM4,511 amount agreed upon under the 2011 MoU, claiming it did not match the current costs that had to be borne by the agencies.

Meanwhile, other avenues for Malaysians to hire Indonesian maids on their own via the "journey performed visa" will be abolished soon.

"Previously the Immigration Department had allowed for the JP visa to be issued because of problems in the supply of Indonesian maids based on a case-to-case basis," said Muhyiddin, adding the visa would be discontinued in October.

Asked if the new costs could discourage employers from hiring maids through registered agencies and resort to easier channels, Muhyiddin urged potential employers to abide by the law or risk ending up with problematic maids.

"They must hire maids through the proper channels or all sorts of problems will crop up, especially since the maids hired are not protected by the MoU."

The shortage of maids in the country because of the prolonged deliberation between Malaysia and Indonesia have caused distress for families dependent on maids.

Previously, families were forced to pay up to RM10,000 to secure the services of Indonesian maids.