Indonesia proposes RM1,200 monthly pay raise for housemaids

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia has submitted a proposal paper to the Human Resources Ministry to consider improving the working conditions of Indonesian maids in Malaysia, including requests for pay raise.
Indonesia Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission Hermono said the new proposed wage was RM1,200 per month from RM800 per month at present.
He said this was to ensure that the job in Malaysia was more competitive.
"We propose that the wage is raised to RM1,200 per month. If wages in other countries are taken into account, it is so much higher than those offered in Malaysia," he told Bernama at the Indonesian Embassy here today.
He said the proposal paper was submitted to Malaysia during the joint working group between the human resources ministry of both countries in Putrajaya last May 12 and 13.
He said the Indonesian delegation was led by Labour Placement Construction director-general Reyna Usman while Malaysia was led by Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Saripuddin Kasim.
According to him, Indonesia also suggested that Malaysia facilitates easier processing of documents and abolish charge payments imposed on housemaids estimated at RM1,800 per person.
"If we frequently provide an official channel that is more efficient, cheaper, better wages with better protection, hopefully they will go to the legal channel.
"At the moment, we are waiting for feedback from Malaysia," he said.
Last year, Indonesian president Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, said the republic proposed to stop sending Indonesian women abroad to work as housemaids.
Early this month, the republic decided not to send its citizens to Middle Eastern countries as housemaids following several brutal abuse and murder cases inflicted on them.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Jokowi during their meeting last February also agreed to establish only one housemaid recruitment channel from the republic to Malaysia to safeguard their interest and address the problem of illegal immigrants. – Bernama