There are various reasons why some households may require the services of a domestic helper, whether it’s helping out with household chores, caring for young children or elderly family members.
When hiring a foreign domestic helper, there are several costs involved including processing fees, visa application and monthly salaries.
Salary And Other Costs Of Hiring A Foreign Domestic Worker
Depending on which country the domestic helper comes from, there may be a minimum monthly salary requirement.
For example, employers need to pay a minimum of RM1,500 in monthly wages to Indonesian domestic helpers, as per the memorandum signed by the Malaysia and Indonesia governments in 2022.
According to several employment agencies, Malaysians who want to hire a domestic helper from the Philippines will need to pay a minimum monthly salary of RM1,800.
Additionally, domestic workers with more experience may require a higher salary.
In Malaysia, many households seek the services of Indonesian domestic helpers as both countries share similar culture and traditions. It will be easier for the employer to communicate with the domestic worker and teach chores such as cooking local dishes.
Besides monthly salary, there are other costs involved in hiring a foreign domestic worker. Employers will need to pay a security bond for the domestic worker. As shown in the following table, the bond amount varies depending on the domestic worker’s country of origin.
| Domestic helper’s country of origin | Security Bond |
| Indonesia | RM250 |
| The Philippines | RM750 |
| Sri Lanka | RM750 |
| India | RM750 |
| Thailand | RM250 |
| Cambodia | RM250 |
| Laos | RM1,500 |
| Vietnam | RM1,500 |
For those who are applying for the approval of foreign domestic workers directly with the Immigration Department of Malaysia, there are several fees involved. Employers are required to pay a levy of RM410 per worker and processing fee of RM125. You will also need to pay for Single Entry Visa (SEV), which costs up to RM50.
Many households in Malaysia rely on employment agencies for the hiring of foreign domestic workers as they provide one-stop solutions from sourcing, hiring to training the workers.
For their service, employment agencies typically charge an initial placement fee, which ranges from around RM15,000 to RM18,000. The fee typically covers the recruitment process, visa application and training.
Who Can Hire A Foreign Domestic Helper
In Malaysia, the hiring of a foreign domestic helper is regulated by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
To be eligible for the hiring of a foreign domestic helper, you need to fulfil certain conditions. You and your spouse should have children under the age of 15 or elderly parents who are ill. In addition, you will also need to fulfil some income requirements.
Employers need to earn a minimum of the income stated in the table below to hire a foreign domestic worker. The income requirements differ depending on the domestic helper’s country of origin. Individuals who are declared bankrupt will not be able to hire domestic workers.
| Domestic helper’s country of origin | Minimum employer net income |
| Indonesia | RM7,000 |
| The Philippines | RM5,000 |
| Sri Lanka | RM5,000 |
| India | RM5,000 |
| Thailand | RM3,000 |
| Cambodia | RM3,000 |
| Laos | RM3,000 |
| Vietnam | RM3,000 |
If you want to hire more than one domestic worker, you will need to provide valid reasons and earn a minimum of the income shown in the following table.
| Monthly Income | |
| Second foreign domestic helper | More than RM10,000 |
| Third foreign domestic helper | More than RM15,000 |
| Fourth and more foreign domestic helper | Special Approval of the Director General of Immigration |
For the hiring of Indonesian domestic workers, employers will need to fulfil other requirements such as not having more than six family members living in a household. The application should be made through Malaysia Recruitment Agency (MRA) and Indonesia Placement Agency (IPA) only.
Process Of Applying For Foreign Domestic Help
Should you fulfil all the requirements, you can submit an application to the Immigration Department of Malaysia yourself or through foreign domestic worker employment agencies registered with the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
If you’re applying directly yourself, you can do so through the Sistem Maid Online (SMO) platform, which is available for residents in the Peninsular Malaysia.
As an employer, you can hire domestic helpers from several countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, Laos and Nepal. For Muslim employers, they can only hire Muslim domestic workers.
Foreign domestic helpers who work in Malaysia need to be female, aged between 21 and 45 years old and resides in her country of origin.
Employers will need to apply for a visa for foreign domestic workers. Upon approval of the visa, the domestic worker can enter Malaysia. Then, employers need to bring the worker to a clinic registered with FOMEMA Sdn Bhd for a medical check up. Workers who pass the check up can stay and work in Malaysia.
Since 2021, employers are also required to register an account for their domestic workers and contribute to the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO). Under SOCSO, there are the Employment Injury Scheme and Invalidity Scheme which foreign domestic workers can benefit from.
Employers contribute 1.25% of the worker’s monthly salary to the Employment Injury Scheme and 0.5% to the Invalidity Scheme. Foreign domestic helpers are required to contribute 0.5% of their salary.
By doing so, foreign domestic workers will be eligible to receive protection should they suffer a work-related injury or occupational disease during employment.
Read Also: VDR, VP(TE) And EP: Guide To Hiring Foreign Workers For Your Company In Malaysia
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