KUALA LUMPUR: Most Malaysian employers are willing to pay as much as RM1,500 for the monthly salary for Indonesian domestic workers although the minister yesterday clarified that their minimum wage to start at RM1,200 based on existing minimum wage requirements in the country.
New Straits Times has found out that despite complaints from people about the new set minimum wages for Indonesian domestic workers, there are those who are willing to pay more.
Samantha Lum said she was willing to pay as much as RM2,400 a month."
"However, what needs to be looked into are the agent fees that can be too high. I even encountered one that asked 30,000 for agent fees.
"That's why employers tend to pay a much lower monthly wages to their maids, which they believe was to compensate the agent fees," she said.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan had said that the monthly salary for Indonesian domestic helpers would start at RM1,200 in line with Malaysia's minimum wage requirements.
Employers can, at their own discretion, pay their domestic workers RM1,500 or more if they so wish.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the employment and protection of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia was inked between the two countries on April 1 to address outstanding issues such as exploitation of the workers.
The monthly salary of the workers as per MoU is RM1,500.
Syairi Narawi claimed that he was also prepared to pay more as long as the maids were able to perform their tasks well.
"I am willing to pay a higher wage as long as the maids are good at doing house chores and taking care of my kids. Then it's worth the salary," he said.
Twitter user @ManPin wrote: "Maid minimum wage -- those who can afford it, go ahead."
"But it's true, majority just can't afford that rate. And I bet you there will be quite a number of 'underground' maids being 'employed' soon," he said, referring to the unregulated channel of agents offering undocumented or irregular domestic workers.
Another Twitter user @leoshikamaru said the RM1,200 starting minimum salary for maids was reasonable.
"Malaysia's RM1,500 minimum wage took account the cost of living including housing rental, groceries, meals, petrol and more.
"We will be happy to pay a salary of RM1,500 provided that they pay for other costs of living."