Indonesia makes it official - RM1,200 for maids

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia has proposed the new wage for maids at RM1,200 per month from RM800.

It submitted a proposal paper on the new wage to the Human Resources Ministry to improve working conditions of maids in Malaysia.

Indonesia Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission Hermono said this was to ensure that the job in Malaysia was more competitive.

"We propose that the wage is raised to RM1,200 per month. If wages in other countries are taken into account, it is so much higher than those offered in Malaysia," he told Bernama.

He said the proposal was submitted during the joint working group between the human resources ministry of both countries in Putrajaya last May 12 and 13.

He said the Indonesian delegation was led by Labour Placement Construction director-general Reyna Usman while Malaysia was led by Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim.

Indonesia also suggested that Malaysia facilitates easier processing of documents and abolish charge payments on housemaids estimated at RM1,800 per person.

"If we frequently provide an official channel that is more efficient, cheaper, better wages with better protection, hopefully they will go to the legal channel.

"At the moment, we are waiting for feedback from Malaysia," he said.

Last year, Indonesian president Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, said the republic proposed to stop sending Indonesian women abroad to work as housemaids.

Early this month, the republic decided not to send its citizens to Middle Eastern countries as housemaids following several brutal abuse and murder cases inflicted on them.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Jokowi during their meeting last February also agreed to establish only one housemaid recruitment channel from the republic to Malaysia to safeguard their interest and address the problem of illegal immigrants. - Bernama