The star newspaper on Monday, 10th January 2011 referred the statement of Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies:PAPA that 35,000 Malaysian families are currently in desperate need of maids to take care of home, children and elders. This situation tends to worsen since foreign maid agency in Malaysia could not supply maid to meet the demand.
The shortage of foreign maids caused by Indonesia imposing a freeze on its people from entering Malaysia as maids since over hundred-thousand of Indonesian maids in Malaysia were bruised and some died. Indonesian government therefore announced to stop sending Indonesian maids to work in Malaysia and MOU between Malaysia and Indonesia on hiring maids has not been settled since it could not reach a resolution on wage rate (Indonesian government requests to increase wage rate from RM 400 to be RM 800 or approximately 4,000 baht to be 8,000 baht)
Foreign maid agency in Malaysia turned to seek maids from neighboring countries such as Cambodian, Vietnam, Philippine and Thailand. Recently, Cambodian maids have been in need but it however could not serve the demand since Cambodian maid ages over 21 years mostly get married so that they do not want to work overseas. The foreign maid agency association filed the letter requesting the government to consider reducing the ceiling age of maid capable of working in Malaysia to be over 18 years old. Until now, the request has not been approved.
From October 2010 onward, Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia received the requests on hiring Thai maids from Malaysian employers and foreign maid agencies in Malaysia namely;
– Agensi Pekerjaan Excel Top Choice Sdn. Bhd. 300 positions
– Agensi Pekerjaan Amansari 300 positions
– Agensi Pekerjaan Sentosa Sdn. Bhd. 100 positions
– Agensi Pekerjaan TSE Sdn. Bhd. 50 positions
Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia, therefore, gave information on how to lawfully employ Thai labours and sample of employment contract, also inform minimum wage rate of RM 700 per month (approximately 7,000 baht) as specified by Department of Employment. Lately, foreign maids in Malaysia earn wage of 8,000-12,000 baht.
Any persons interested to work in Malaysia, please check with Department of Employment and shall obtain employment contract certified by Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia prior to travelling to work in Malaysia. Furthermore, please inform traveling information to MOL to prevent being deceived and to keep it as information for providing assistance in case of having problem of working.
