Ministry May Reduce Levy For Employing Indonesian Maids

KLUANG, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The Human Resource Ministry may consider reducing levy charged for employing Indonesian maids, as an initiative to ease the burden of employers, said its Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on Saturday.The Minister however, did not disclose the proposed amount, since the matter has yet to be discussed with his Indonesian counterpart."We will discuss the prospect of reducing levy for employing Indonesian maids, with the Indonesian authorities," said Subramaniam after opening the National Job Carnival 2009 here today.He added that his ministry would table a proposal to reduce levy on Indonesian maids during a joint meeting next month or the month after.Employers in the country had expressed concern with the high levy incurred for employing Indonesian maids which can cost between RM6,000 to RM7,000 for each maid.Speaking of the request for the salary of Indonesian maids to be raised above RM800 a month, Subramaniam said such a proposal or request had never been made by the Indonesian authorities."Such calls has only been heard from the country's non-governmental organisations and not from the Indonesian government," he said.The ministry will only consider any request from the Indonesian government, he said.