$326 maid pay not feasible

PETALING JAYA – INDONESIA’S demand that its maids be paid a minimum RM800 (S$326) monthly salary has hit a raw nerve among Malaysians.

‘Not all of us are getting a four-figure pay packet . Wait for us to progress, then such a request can be deemed feasible,” Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Kedah chapter chairman Pishol Ishak said.

He said many Matta members could not afford to pay RM800 monthly to their general workers, what more a similar sum for foreign maids.

Calling for rationality, he said: ‘As much as we value the role played by maids, particularly from Indonesia, the salary expectation must be in tandem with the earning power of Malaysians too.’

Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Da’i Bachtiar has been quoted in press reports as saying that Indonesia is pressing for the minimum wage following cases of maid abuse by Malaysian employers.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S Subramaniam is expected to comment on the issue on Monday.

It is estimated that there are 294,115 Indonesian maids working in Malaysia.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers northern region chairman, Datuk O K Lee, said manufacturers would be worried if the Government agreed to such a minimum wage as some local workers earned less than that.

”It would cause anger among the workers. We have to find a balance. Such a move is not advisable at this juncture due to the (global economic slump),” Datuk Lee said.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun asked whether employers could still afford to hire Indonesian maids if they had to pay that sum. ‘Also, will the increase in pay lead to better service from the maids?’ — THE STAR