36 employers to get maids this week
PUTRAJAYA: Thirty-six employers will receive their foreign maids by this week through the newly-introduced Maid Online System (SMO).
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the first batch was able to apply and receive their maids in six days.
“Initially, we promised that it would take eight days, but this first batch was successful in just six days, minus the three non-working days from Jan 1.
“This is provided that their Foreign Workers Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema) application is approved yesterday (Monday).
“It is definitely an achievement for the department,” he said at the department’s monthly gathering.
He said the Fomema screening approval could take about three to five working days, while the department’s processing would take a maximum of five days.
The Immigration Department imple- mented the SMO on Jan 1 to ease the financial burden of employers seeking domestic helpers.
Fees borne by employers to hire a maid will be as low as RM 1,635, including Fomema screening charges.
“This is cheaper compared with what employers used to pay to hire maids. The fees previously ranged between RM12,000 and RM18,000,” he said.
The 36 employers will receive the Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) and i-Kad (identity card by sectors of employment for foreign workers) for maids if the Fomema approval goes through, Mustafar said.
He said as at yesterday, 111,000 have visited the SMO website and 3,141 employers have been granted access by the department.
“Of the 3,141 employers, 76 have submitted completed documents. Of the 76, 36 are waiting for the Fomema results.”
Malaysia currently hosts 127,991 foreign maids.
Mustafar said with the system in place, the process of registering and receiving maids would be easier and faster.
He also said the department would carry out secondary screenings for foreign visitors, especially those from high-risk countries.
“There will not be any compromise on risky visitors. Stricter screening will be done to determine the authenticity of their travel documents and the purpose of their travel.
“As of last year, we have served more than 50,000 visitors with the ‘Not to Land’ notice.”