How much should we pay maids?<\/p>\n
V.K. Chin,
\nThe Star,
\nAsia News Network,
\nSelangor, Malaysia<\/p>\n
One sticky point in the Memorandum of Understanding concerns
\nthe new salary scheme for Indonesian maids. Indonesia is asking
\nfor RM500, which is almost 20 percent more than the existing
\nrate.<\/p>\n
Understandably, the Malaysian government has disagreed with
\nthis new figure and prefers to hold further discussions with the
\nIndonesian leaders to overcome this.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's argument is that its maids are being paid the
\nlowest compared to those working in Singapore and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
This may be so but then there is a difference in the quality
\nbetween those maids and those employed here.<\/p>\n
Further, Jakarta pointed out that by paying higher, better
\ncandidates could be sent here to justify its request. But this is
\ndebatable and it is not necessarily so nor that this promise will
\nbe implemented.<\/p>\n
At present, getting a maid is akin to buying a lottery.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, and with a lot of luck, the employers may be able
\nto find good ones who can adjust to local conditions.<\/p>\n
But most times, they are left with candidates who seem
\ncompletely out of depth in the Malaysian home environment. This
\nhas given their employers a lot of problems and inconvenience.<\/p>\n
What is in doubt about the quality of the maids, even with the
\nacceptance of the Indonesian revised pay request, is that there
\nis no guarantee that the employers will get superior ones.<\/p>\n
This problem arises due to the dependence of the employers on
\nthe recruitment agencies, some of whom are already well known in
\nthe market for their tactics in taking advantage of their
\nclients.<\/p>\n
Many agencies have often supplied maids without abiding by the
\nconditions asked for by the employers.<\/p>\n
Should employers have the temerity to reject such candidates,
\nthey would be given the runaround, resulting in paying more for
\nthe new help not to mention the stress caused in the end.<\/p>\n
Many Malaysians may be prepared to pay more for such maids but
\nthey must at least be assured that they are getting what they pay
\nfor. More pay must be accompanied by better performance and
\nsatisfaction.<\/p>\n
At the same time, some employers should also not regard their
\nmaids as slaves and expect too much of them. Some maids have so
\nmuch to do that they hardly have time to rest.<\/p>\n
It is unreasonable to expect maids to cook, do the washing,
\nclean the house daily and look after the children and to wash
\nseveral cars a day too. Any worker would break down if obliged to
\nperform so many chores day in, day out.<\/p>\n
So the employers must be more considerate and if the maids are
\nexpected to do all these things, then they will have to be
\nsuperhuman to satisfy their bosses.<\/p>\n
And it is only with a lot of understanding and give-and-take
\nthat there will be harmony and peace between such employer-
\nemployee relationships.<\/p>",
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