THE cost structure for hiring Indonesian domestic workers (PDI) will be reviewed every three months by a Malaysia-Indonesia joint working group.

Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan said this is to ensure the structure is in line with current needs and takes into account changes in heath test and transportation fees.

The PDI recruitment cost structure agreed in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the recruitment and protection of Indonesian domestic maids covers 15 components in Malaysia and Indonesia, he added.

“Examples of cost components in Malaysia include immigration security deposit, insurance, health check, levy and work permit.

“Examples of cost components in Indonesia include passport, work visa, health certificate, competency certificate and psychological test.

“The PDI recruitment cost comes under the responsibility of the employers in accordance with the fair recruitment initiative guidelines issued by the International Labour Organisation.”

Saravanan said the MOU signed on April 1 in Jakarta, Indonesia, is an improvement from the previous MOU, whose cost structure outlined only the components involved without setting the price rate.

“The implementation of the previous agreement caused some issues due to the fixed cost structure, which was too low compared with the market price, causing employers to pay more to get PDI services. This issue is addressed in the new MOU.”

He said through the agreement, employers can save up to RM3,000 on recruitment costs as there is no quarantine requirement for domestic helpers, except those who test positive during Covid-19 screening. – Bernama, April 5, 2022.