S'pore to raise wage 20% for RI maids

S'pore to raise wage 20% for RI maids

SINGAPORE: Singapore will increase the minimum monthly salary of Indonesian maids working in the city-state by 20 percent, a news report said on Sunday.

The Association of Employment Agencies said it would raise the minimum wage to S$280 (US$170; euro 130.53) per month for new Indonesian maids starting April 1, Channel News Asia reported.

The increase will bring salaries of Indonesian domestic helpers closer to those of maids from other countries such as the Philippines, the association said.

Indonesian authorities appealed last November to Singapore to implement the pay rise.

About 140,000 maids, mostly from poor Asian countries, work in this wealthy Southeast Asian nation of 4 million people. -- AP