Restrictions on hiring of Indonesian maids stay

The restrictions on hiring domestic workers from Indonesia will remain, an Indonesian diplomatic representative in Oman has clarified.

Social media was abuzz with rumours that Indonesia would lift the ban — imposed almost two years ago — on hiring maids. “The ban will continue as want to regulate the recruitment process,” said the source at the Indonesian embassy.

Indonesia had imposed the ban to protect the interests of those seeking domestic work abroad from exploitation by recruitment agencies back home.

“We aim to end certain malpractices employed by the recruitment agencies in Indonesia,” he said.

The ban is part of Indonesia’s decision to stop sending domestic workers to 21 countries in the world, including some GCC nations.

The current salary of an untrained housemaid from Indonesia in Oman is RO 100-120 per month, while trained maids get RO 200.

“I used to have an Indonesian domestic help till recently, and wanted to hire another person from the country. I was hoping the ban would be lifted,” said Khadeeja, a ministry employee, citing rumours on social media.

She was said to learn she wouldn’t be able to hire an Indonesian maid.

Indonesian officials had said they were studying the living conditions in each GCC state and were in the process of revising salaries to ensure they meet requirements of its domestic workers.

“We are sending skilled workers abroad and helping them take part in the nation-building process while discouraging domestic workers,” he said.

“We are keen to reduce the number of Indonesian housemaids and increase the number of professionals in various sectors, including oil and gas, health and hospitality,” he said.

According to statistics provided by the Indonesian embassy, the current Indonesian population in Oman is 19,216.

In 2015, it stood at 32,535, including 31,891 females and 644 males, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information.