PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to implement the “one-maid-one-house” concept where an Indonesian domestic helper can be employed to work in a household of not more than six people. This concept replaces the earlier “one-maid-one-task” arrangement following a meeting between Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and his Indonesian counterpart Ida Fauziyah. Saravanan said that it was also agreed at the meeting that the cost structure for the recruitment of Indonesian workers will be studied every six months. “This is to ensure that the costs are in line with the current situation, taking into consideration, among others, air fares and quarantine charges,” he said in a statement after the meeting in Jakarta on Monday (Jan 24). Saravanan also said Malaysia and Indonesia had agreed to a pilot project on the recruitment of 10,000 domestic helpers which is expected to be implemented in a week after a memorandum of understanding is signed between both countries. The MoU on the recruitment of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia will be signed on Feb 7 and 8 in Bali. “The pilot project is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness in the implementation of the MoU and to rectify and improve weaknesses,” he said. At the meeting, both countries also agreed on other matters affecting the MoU such as a channel system to establish a single passage for the entry of Indonesian domestic helpers into Malaysia. The statement said the issue of salary for domestic helpers was also discussed, but did not provide details.
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