While market forces will finally determine the cost of hiring an Indonesian maid, those who are in the industry have responded very skeptically to a statement by the Human Resources Minister that the cost to hire these maids would fall from RM9,000 to RM6,000 per maid.
The Human Resources Ministry said the first batch of maids from Indonesia totalling about 10,000 people were expected to arrive in the country after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia questioned if the price to bring in a maid could be reduced as, before the pandemic, Indonesia agents were selling the biodata of maids for between RM10,000 and RM12,000.
They also expressed disbelief that 10,000 maids would be entering the country after Hari Raya when the online system to submit applications for maids is yet to be ready.
The National Association of Human Resources Malaysia (Pusma) also expressed disbelief that the fee for hiring a maid will be lowered and wants the Human Resources Ministry to prove that the figure is viable for the recruitment of a domestic worker.
The Malaysia Maid Employers Association (Mama) said the reduction from RM9,000 to RM6,000 is only feasible if an employer obtains a domestic worker on his own.
-HR HUB
