Indonesia tries to up maid wage in Singapore

Indonesia tries to up maid wage in Singapore

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

Indonesian maids working in Singapore will next year have their minimum salaries raised by S$50 (US$30) a month, under a plan being pushed by the Indonesian embassy.

The embassy sent a letter to all maid agencies this week calling on them to lift the salaries from $230 a month to $280 dollars to reflect the better quality of maids the Singapore government is trying to attract.

The Singapore government announced in September that from next year all new foreign maids must be at least 23 years old, up from the minimum age of 18, and that they must have at least eight years of formal schooling.

Unlike in Hong Kong and other places in Asia, the government in Singapore does not impose a minimum wage, placing a burden on embassies to try and ensure their nationals receive a fair wage and are not exploited.

The Straits Times newspaper said Indonesian maids would still be paid less than their Filipina counterparts, who receive about $320 a month thanks to the efforts of the Philippines embassy.

But the paper said they will be paid more than maids from countries such as India and Sri Lanka.

Indonesian embassy officials were unable to comment on Friday, with the consulate closed for a holiday.

A Manpower Ministry spokeswoman said on Friday the government was not involved in the Indonesian embassy's efforts to raise the maids' salaries.

About 150,000 foreign women work in Singapore as domestic helpers, with most coming from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India.