An estimated 10,000 maids are expected to arrive in Malaysia next month. Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said Malaysia was also discussing with other countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh for the supply of maids to Malaysia. He said the starting salary of the Indonesian maids would be RM1,200 adding that it would be up to the employers if they wish to pay the maids up to RM1500 a month following the implementation of the new minimum wage starting 1 May 2022. Datuk Saravanan also noted that the maximum cost of hiring Indonesian domestic workers is expected to be lower than the widely-reported figure of RM15,000.
On another matter, Datuk Saravanan said that nearly 180,000 applications to hire foreign workers in five sectors will be processed and approved within six weeks. The five sectors are construction, agriculture, plantation, manufacturing and services.
Meanwhile, Datuk Saravanan said he would submit a request to the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to consider the reopening of several sectors which were frozen from foreign workers recruitment due to security factors.
