Truly, it is worth working as a maid

"What a mundane job. It has no future and it gives no time to socialise."

These are the usual comments that describe the work of a maid, and this is what causes the youths to shy away from pursuing the job.

However, despite the thousands of people who shun the job, there are those willing to work as a maid when it promises a decent income and other benefits.

Kemaman (Terengganu) native Siti Nordira Mat Hassan, 26, was well aware of the community's negative perception since she decided to become a maid three years ago. She has had enough of jobs that provide just enough to survive each month, but not enough to save.

"After I completed my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), I worked at a restaurant, bakery, supermarket and also cleaned homestays. I earned about RM900. I'm left with only RM400 after spending on fuel for my motorcycle and food, and this does not include costs like my phone bill. I could hardly assist my family, what more save for myself.

"Now, I can earn a nett income of almost RM1,000 and sometimes I get overtime if my employer is overseas. I don't have to worry about food or accommodation because it's provided.

"Once a year my employer will sponsor a holiday destination of my choice, as well bonuses and some extra money for Hari Raya. I never had all that before," Siti Nordira pointed out.

Work hard to win employer’s trust

According to Siti Nordira, hard work and loyalty as a maid is a way win over an employer and enjoy greater benefits, compared with other careers.

She said foreign women dominated the maid industry because it is clearly lucrative, so much so that send money to their family and build a house in their country of origin.

"Why should I feel ashamed when my peers stay home because they refuse to work in a supermarket or restaurant. Becoming a maid has made me determined to open up a childcare centre one day.

"I do not come from a wealthy family and live in a PPRT (Hardcore Poor Housing Project). Any remainder from my salary would be saved over months to help with house repairs, pay off my motorcycle loan and now I have started learning how to drive," she added.

Siti Nordira admitted that the job required mingling with another person's family, but she regards it as a way to change and improve on her weaknesses. There are lots to learn.

She initially thought her stint as a maid would be a short one, but to her own surprise it was not. There were times her employer sent her to baking classes so that she is well prepared when she resigns.

"I am unbelievably lucky to have a caring employer. I am treated like like part of the family and when introduced to people, I am referred to as their personal assistant.

"I'm given days off but I'm comfortable staying with the kids. Every two months, I will go back to the village and my employer bears all my travel expense. If I don't return home, then the travel expense will be paid as overtime," she said cheerfully.

How it started

Recalling the start of her career in housekeeping, Siti Nordira said she had heard that her employer was looking for a local helper.

"I called my employer and she told me that I needed to look after three school-going children. She would usually cook and I just need to help out, but I cook when she's busy. What they eat is what I eat.

"I was given a raise after two months and seeing the chemistry between me and the family, I decided to continue, despite friends calling me 'bibik' (auntie). They eventually stopped teasing me when they saw how my life had turned out better than expected. Now they have shown an interest in becoming a maid too," she chuckled.

Meanwhile, Mastura (not her real name), 25, who comes from the same village as Siti Nordira, decided to follow the same footsteps upon seeing Siti Nordira’s changes.

Mastura, who works in Johor Baharu, contacted her employer through Facebook and began her job last year.

She is paid RM1,000 monthly and cares for her employer's disabled child.

"My employer, a doctor, went to meet my family in the village and gave them the address of where I would be living before I followed her back to Johor Baharu. I'm comfortable here and it makes me happy that my salary is all mine and that I need not spend on rent or food," she added.

Mastura had previously been employed by a supermarket but quit because she could not take standing for hours each day and also the transportation problems she faced.

Home manager programme in Terengganu

Siti Nordira and Mastura may work on their own, but in Terengganu the same job opportunities have been commercialised through the Home Manager programme.

Under the supervision of the Terengganu Family Development Foundation (YPKT), the programme has produced 81 home managers so far, consisting of single mothers and youths.

YKPT director Mohd Shafaruddin Mustaffa said of this number, 37 home managers have obtained jobs in Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Nerus (30), Dungun (five), Marang (four), two each in Kemaman and Hulu Terengganu as well as one in Besut.

"The state government introduced the programme to reduce the dependency of Malaysians, especially people in Terengganu, on foreign maids.

"The best thing about this programme is that the employer and home manager both understand our local culture. So far, everything looks good and more people are interested in hiring home managers," Shafaruddin said.

To ensure future home managers can do their tasks well, YKPT, through Permodalan YPK Sdn Bhd, holds preparatory skills courses in theory and practical formats.

In fact, the programme is allocated RM1 million to provide car loan facilities, insurance, Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso) and uniforms. The starting pay for home managers is RM900.

Shafaruddin added that employers also enjoy a RM200 subsidy for six months, whereby they only need to pay RM700 for their home manager.

"This year, 150 participants have registered to join the home manager programme and the first intake for 2016 began in March.

"Each course accommodates 30 participants who will undergo training for 14 days before they are handed over to respective employers," he said.

- Bernama