Twentytwo13

Paid more than RM7,800 for Indonesian maid? Lodge report, urges deputy minister

Families in Malaysia have found it tough securing the services of domestic workers in recent times, especially following the lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some were forced to fork out over RM20,000 in initial fees to get a maid from Indonesia.

Even Malaysian MPs had faced issues hiring domestic workers, as revealed in the Dewan Rakyat, this morning.

Responding to a question by P. Kasthuriraani (PH-Batu Kawan), Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim (Pas-Pendang) stressed that the cost of hiring domestic workers from Indonesia was set at RM7,800.

“This is based on the Memorandum of Understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia. RM6,000 of the cost goes to the Malaysian side, while RM1,800 goes to Indonesia,” said Awang.

“Only registered employment agencies can bring in domestic workers.”

Kasthuriraani, however, pointed out that agencies were charging between RM15,000 and RM30,000 to bring in maids from the republic.

“Many of us MPs are waiting for domestic workers to help us manage our homes and care for our parents,” said Kasthuriraani.

“Is it (the amount of RM15,000 to RM30,000) justifiable?

“This ‘market rate’ … is it dictated by the government or the agents?”

Kasthuriraani admitted that the RM7,800, as revealed by Awang, was an acceptable figure.

Awang once again stressed that the MoU clearly stated RM7,800.

“If there is a charge or fee that is more than this (RM7,800), then lodge a report, and we will take action,” he added.

“This (RM7,800) is the agreed cost.”

Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (PBM-Tebrau) said there were unscrupulous parties who had pretended to be agents.

To that, Awang said, for as long as the agency had all the required documentation and certification, they were legitimate. If agents were unable to furnish such details, then people should not deal with them.

Former Deputy Human Resource Minister, Datuk Ismail Abd Muttalib, had in Parliament on March 23, 2015, said Malaysia and Indonesia had signed a MoU where the cost to employ a maid from Indonesia was fixed at RM7,800.

Both governments had also recently reached an agreement on the final draft of an MoU on the placement and protection of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia.