Costs to hire migrant domestic helpers unclear - RM1,136 an 'unlikely' sum

 

The final cost for a Malaysian employer to hire a new migrant Indonesian domestic helper so far remains unclear, said Foreign Domestic Helpers Agencies Association (Papa) president Foo Yong Hui, ahead of signing a memorandum of understanding on new recruitment terms between both governments.

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud previously cited an RM1,136 figure to hire a migrant domestic helper from all source countries but Foo told Malaysiakini there were other costs unaccounted for including flight ticket and travel documents.

"Whether an employer will only pay RM1,136 to get a domestic helper, I personally feel that is unlikely.

"For example, if you want to get an Indonesian domestic helper, you (employer) have to bear (other) costs like making their passport and buying a flight ticket," said Foo when contacted yesterday.

"So I don't know how he (Khairul) arrived at this figure (RM1,136)," he added.

Khairul in a statement on Friday said the amount comprises levy, visa according to the source country, processing fee, employment pass payment, surety and a few other payments.

He was refuting a report by English-daily The Star that quoted Penang-based job agency owners who said that the current cost for an agency to get a domestic helper for prospective employers is between RM20,000 and RM25,000, with additions for quarantine and Covid-19 prevention costs.

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud

"Maybe what he meant is for those who applied through the Sistem Maid Online (SMO)," said Foo in reference to the Immigration Department's system for employers to directly hire domestic helpers from 10 approved source countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines.

When contacted, the Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, who goes by a single name, said its government had raised objections to the SMO mechanism that bypassed Indonesian recruitment agencies, a requirement under the country's law to protect its citizens working as domestic helpers abroad.

"Indonesia has asked for the (new) recruitment process to be carried out via a One Channel System approved by both governments and no other channels would be used, including the SMO," he said.

Contacted yesterday, Khairul denied that the lower cost is only applicable for recruitments via SMO.

"No. This is payment for entry according to the domestic helper entry procedure," he told Malaysiakini.

Khairul, however, declined further comments including when asked for clarification on whether the previously quoted cost of up to five figures would include agency fees.

'RM25,000 an exorbitant figure'

Meanwhile, Foo described the reported sum of up to RM25,000 allegedly charged by agencies as an "exorbitant figure".

He alluded to cases of migrant domestic helper candidates allegedly brought in despite border closures imposed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

"What we know is that some people have managed to bring in the maids during the border closure.

"They managed to bring in and then market them at such a high price. We strongly opposed such an exorbitant price," he said.

On Friday, Malaysiakini reported how the MyTravelPass - announced only for use by Malaysians and returning workers - was abused to let in new hires who found themselves being exploited. 

Prior to the pandemic, Foo said the average cost to hire a Filipino domestic helper was set at around RM12,000 while it would cost an employer up to RM18,000 for an Indonesian helper.

"We hope the Indonesian fee will be reduced to the level of other countries, for example, the Philippines.

"The Philippines even though their salary is high, the recruitment fee is cheap," he noted.

Indonesia and the Philippines remain the two top source countries for migrant domestic helpers in Malaysia, and Foo urged the government to allow entries of new recruits from the Philippines, pending the conclusion of negotiations with Indonesia.

Amid growing demand for affordable help, Foo added that the association has also explored beyond the list of approved countries to engage counterparts in Bangladesh that he claimed were willing to recruit domestic worker candidates for below RM10,000. - Mkini