Explain how capped fees are derived, govt urged

PETALING JAYA: How the capped fees of between RM10,000 to RM15,000 for Indonesian maids were derived must be explained by the government as it signs the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia, say domestic workers recruitment associations.

Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia vice president Suresh Tan said they can comply with the capped fee range determined by the government but were concerned about the rate that the Indonesian agencies would charge them.

“If they (the Indonesian agencies) sell the biodata (of the maid) at RM12,000 or RM13,000, the cost then cannot be in that range.

“We can comply but we are also concerned whether he (Saravanan) would be able to convince them to provide the biodata price of below RM10,000. If he can convince them to have a supply price of below RM10,000, we have no problems complying with it,” he said yesterday.

Tan noted that their Indonesian counterparts too have their own recruitment cost that comprise among others, training, documentation, and passport application.

Yesterday, Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said an MOU on the recruitment of Indonesian domestic workers is expected to be signed on Feb 7 or 8 with a capped fee to be borne by employers.

Saravanan had said that they were looking to cap the fees at between RM10,000 and RM15,000.

Malaysian Maid Employers Association (Mama) president Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein said the government must explain and itemise how it derived the capped fee.

Engku Ahmad pointed out that the levies and fees do not run into five digits.

“The government must be transparent and itemise how it derived the capped sum.

“We want to know the justification and the reality behind the sum. We cannot make any judgment on the sum until we understand how it was derived. Does the capped sum also meet the quality and assurance?” he asked.

He also questioned the government’s rationale in quarantining the domestic workers for up to 14 days.

“Do expatriates and tourists entering the country need to be quarantined for 14 days too? Where will the maid be quarantined? Maids are meant to be stationed only inside the premises of the employer. It’s almost a quarantine for her throughout her employment. Who will foot the bill?

“Do foreign domestic workers from other countries have to undergo a 14-day quarantine too? What about the monthly wages?” he added.