‘Go through proper channels for maids’

DPM: Those wanting to hire help from Indonesia and Philippines must go by the book

PUTRAJAYA: Those wanting to directly hire maids from Indonesia and the Philippines will still have to go through agencies registered with the respective governments.

But prospective employers have been assured the costs would be kept low compared to what they have to pay now.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said while the Government allows for direct hiring of maids, it must respect the laws and regulations set by source countries.

“In this case, the laws imposed by Indonesia and the Philippines require those who want to employ its citizens to source workers from companies that are registered with their labour ministries or authorities.

“We have had discussions with both governments,” he said after chairing the foreign workers and illegal workers committee meeting.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when tabling Budget 2018, announced that the Government would give employers the choice of hiring domestic helpers directly from nine source countries.

They are Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and India.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that under the direct hire policy, employers only need to pay the Government RM1,635, as fees for deposit have been reduced from RM1,000 to RM500 while the processing fee will be RM250 compared to RM500 previously.

“We estimate that employers can save up to 90% as charges imposed by agencies can go up to RM18,000,” he said.

The committee, which was also briefed on the Immigration Department’s preparation to accept online applications for maid hiring starting Jan 1, was pleased with the measures taken to receive a steady flow of submissions.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said the committee was informed on the extra health screening for foreign workers effective Jan 1.

Foreign workers will have to undergo medical checks before they leave their country, a month after they arrive in Malaysia, at the end of the first and second year of employment and every two years.

The move is to ensure that foreigners have a clean bill of health while they are working here, he explained.

There are 1.785 million registered foreign workers now, down from 2.135 million in 2015.

We estimate that employers can save up to 90% as charges imposed by agencies can go up to RM18,000. Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi