NUSAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry will try and find a solution to high agency fees for Indonesian maids, said Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.
He said reducing the agency fees would be among the topics to be discussed before the country signs an MoU with Indonesia next month.
“We are still discussing the matter (agency fees),” he said, adding that monthly wages for maids would still be dependent on the market rate.
Dr Subramaniam was speaking to reporters after opening the National World Safety and Health Day at the Work Place event at the Malborough College site here yesterday.
He said reducing the agency fees would be among the topics to be discussed before the country signs an MoU with Indonesia next month.
“We are still discussing the matter (agency fees),” he said, adding that monthly wages for maids would still be dependent on the market rate.
Dr Subramaniam was speaking to reporters after opening the National World Safety and Health Day at the Work Place event at the Malborough College site here yesterday.
He said the Government was flexible about hiring maids from regional countries.
“Malaysians can hire maids from Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Cambodia or the Philippines but the main problem is to get them to come here,” he said.
He noted that the country had many Indonesian and Cambodian maids but there were only a small number from other countries.
“Phillipines maids demand high salaries which most Malaysians are not willing to pay.
“Women from other countries such as Sri Lanka and India, however, prefer not to leave their countries to work and therefore there are only a few of them here,” he said, adding that it was a matter of demand and supply.
“Malaysians can hire maids from Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Cambodia or the Philippines but the main problem is to get them to come here,” he said.
He noted that the country had many Indonesian and Cambodian maids but there were only a small number from other countries.
“Phillipines maids demand high salaries which most Malaysians are not willing to pay.
“Women from other countries such as Sri Lanka and India, however, prefer not to leave their countries to work and therefore there are only a few of them here,” he said, adding that it was a matter of demand and supply.
