PETALING JAYA: The maximum recruitment cost for a new Indonesian domestic worker (PDA) is RM15,000, and application can only be done via Sistem Maid Online (SMO) and SIPERMIT owned by the Indonesian Embassy, says the Human Resources Ministry.
In a statement, the ministry said that any employer who wanted to employ an Indonesian PDA must use Agensi Pekerjaan Swasta (APS) and the Indonesian Embassy.
This was due to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments.
"The process for Indonesian PDA involves the Peninsular Malaysian Labour Department (JTKS), the embassy and the Immigration Department (JIM).
"In terms of permit renewal with JIM, no confirmation from JTKS is required unless the PDA passport is still valid.
"Employers can continue to renew work permits at JIM without going through the APS service.
"If the PDA passport has expired, the employer is required to submit a new application by using APS to liaise with the Indonesian Embassy," the ministry said on Tuesday (Nov 14).
The ministry added that this requirement was already enclosed in the MoU, however the payment rate for renewal was not set.
It added that the issue of renewing Indonesian PDA work permits would be discussed soon during the Joint Working Group Meeting for the Memorandum of Understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia on the Employment and Protection of Indonesian Domestic Workers.
For hiring PDAs from other source countries, the ministry said that it could be done through APS or by the employers themselves.
The cost for PDAs from other countries were subject to the APS offer and the consent from the prospective employer’s agreement.
"The JKTS is also not involved in the permit renewals for other source countries, and employers are to submit renewals to JIM.
"The payment rate is subject to mutual agreement between the employer and APS (if the employer uses APS services)," the ministry said.
Any other form of payments was based on what was stipulated in the contract agreed between the APS and the employer, the ministry added.
For disputes between the APS and the employer, complaints can be made to the Consumer Tribunal or through the civil court.
Every private employment agency carrying out PDA management activities must have a valid license issued by JTKS.
Under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981, APS can charge a placement fee not exceeding the employee’s one-month salary if the charge was imposed on them.
