RP cool to KL proposal on maids

RP cool to KL proposal on maids

MANILA (AFP): A Philippine labor official yesterday expressed apprehension over a Malaysian proposal to raise hiring fees and age limits for Filipino domestic helpers.

"There is abundant domestic help which have been deployed. What will you do with all these," said Philippine Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head Wilhelm Soriano, hinting that it could add to the ranks of the unemployed here.

Earlier, Malaysia recommended that employers wanting to hire maids from the Philippines would have to pay 5,000 ringgit (US$2,000) instead of the current 1,000 ringgit.

They also suggested that the age requirement be increased by 10 years to a minimum of 35, to prevent young domestics from moonlighting in nightclubs.

Under Philippine labor laws, the minimum age requirement for Filipinos seeking employment as domestic help is 25, Soriano said.