ONLY RM1,635 TO HIRE MAIDS
Employers save up to 90 per cent of cost, says DPM
EMPLOYERS looking to directly hire foreign maids need only pay RM1,635 instead of RM18,000 to agents, beginning next year.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the direct recruitment of foreign maids would allow employers to save up to 90 per cent of the cost.
“Directly hiring foreign maids from source countries will reduce the cost and burden on employers. Previously, they had to pay up to RM18,000 to agents.
“The cost of recruitment starting next year is only RM1,635.
“This does not include flight tickets and passport-related costs. We have also reduced the deposit from RM1,000 to RM500, and the processing cost from RM500 to RM250,” he said after chairing a Cabinet Committee Meeting on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants yesterday.
However, he said, employers who wish to hire maids from Indonesia and the Philippines would have to apply with companies registered under the countries’ labour ministries starting Jan 1.
He said this was to comply with rules and regulations set by the countries.
“Employers can directly hire foreign maids via an online system beginning Jan 1.
“However, this only applies to source countries besides Indonesia and the Philippines.
“The governments of these countries have decided that we cannot hire citizens directly as maids. The only way is to apply from companies registered with their labour ministries.
“We have to respect their rules. Employers will have to apply through registered companies.
“They can then get the names of maids and submit the names online.”
He said effective next year, the maids must go through health screenings.
The screenings need to be done before the maids leave their countries, a month after their arrival in the country, at the end of their first and second year of employment and subsequently, once every two years, for as long as they work in Malaysia.