Overtime Perks for Maid?

What? Overtime perks, annual leave and sick leave for maids? Unheard of?

That's what the Indonesian authorities are requesting!

Indonesia government wants all its maids in Malaysia to be paid overtime. It also wants them to be given annual leave. And sick leave. In fact, it wants the maids to enjoy all the benefits under Malaysian labour laws.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said today allowing Indonesian maids to be hired under the labour laws — including provisions for annual and sick leave, days off and overtime payment — would complicate matters for employers.

More than 300,000 Indonesian maids are employed in Malaysia. Depending on their experience, length of service and the financial capacity of their employers, the maids can draw monthly salaries ranging between RM650 and RM700. If we take into consideration the expenses that include food, EPF, medical benefits, clothings, holidays, pocket money and gifts, it would cost an employer an approximate average RM1,500 per month to hire a maid.

Tho' there may be a few employers that did not treat their maids well, generally, most Malaysian employers treated their maid as part of their family member. The maid eats what the employer eats, sleeps in a fully furnish room (tho' usually a small room), goes wherever the family travels, particularly, when the family travels together, and the maids often gets new clothings, shoes, and pocket monies. Apart from that, many employers do shower gifts to the maids and include gifts that is sent back to their family.

Maybe, Malaysian system should develop the maid service using locals, particularly those who are from remote areas and are unemployed.