Govt imposes low fees amounting to RM1,136 for each foreign maid, says Immigration DG

KUALA LUMPUR: The total amount imposed by the government to hire foreign domestic workers for the first time is RM1,136 – which is low, says Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

The Immigration director-general said the cost includes various fees including levies and visas based on the origin country, as well as for the processing fee and passes.

“Employers are free to choose maids from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and Laos,” he said in a statement on Friday (Jan 7).

He was commenting on a report which claimed that the cost to hire foreign domestic workers was exorbitant.

“Each foreign domestic worker hired must comply with the set requirements such as age, gender and passing medical checks by Fomema once they arrive in the country,” he added.

Khairul Dzaimee said as of Dec 31 last year, a total of 88,173 foreign domestic workers were holding temporary visit passes.

“Employers can get further information on procedures to apply for foreign domestic workers and other relevant information through the Immigration website www.imi.gov.my or its social media,” he said.

On Wednesday (Jan 5), The Star’s front page highlighted exorbitant foreign maid recruitment costs, with the fee reaching five figures.

Many people have said that they will not hire Indonesian domestic workers if they have to pay exorbitant fees to bring them into the country.