you will likely find it extremely difficult to recruit a maid directly without the services of an agency. Regulations change without notice, and you may find yourself dealing with various government departments and embassies without a clear picture of how to move the process forward.

If you do decide to go it alone, be clear about the papers and permits needed by authorities in Malaysia and your maid's country of origin, and even if you are allowed to act on your own.

Rates have been creeping up in the past few years. Recent newspaper reports suggest that prospective employers can now expect to pay over RM10,000 upfront. The total sum depends largely on your maid's country of origin.

fees for the local recruitment agency and the agency in the maid's country of origin. the maid's salary for the first three to six months. processing fees and charges for all government levies and duties in Malaysia and her country of origin. the maid's work permit and levy for the first year; medical insurance.

Note that regulations differ in each country, and you should be clear about the papers and permits needed by authorities in Malaysia and your maid's country of origin before you decide to go it alone. For example, the Philippines Embassy here, which issues the POEA (Philippines Overseas Employment Administration) permit, will only deal with agents registered with them.

Individual employers will not be entertained. Without the POEA, your maid will not be allowed to leave her country for employment overseas

fees for the local recruitment agency and the agency in the maid's country of origin. the maid's salary for the first three to six months.

processing fees and charges for all government levies and duties in Malaysia and her country of origin. the maid's work permit and levy for the first year; medical insurance and, travel and accommodation charges to Malaysia from the maid's country of origin.

How much will I have to pay for a foreign maid? Rates have been creeping up in the past few years.

Recent newspaper reports suggest that prospective employers can now expect to pay well over RM10,000 upfront. Even with that hefty price tag, you may still find yourself having to wait several months for your maid. The total sum depends largely on your maid's country of origin

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Bosses can save as much as 50% in costs when hiring foreign maids next year, says Malaysian Maid Employers Association (Mama). Under Budget 2018, bosses will be allowed to hire domestic helpers directly without having to go through agents.

Lauding the announcement by the Prime Minister, association president Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein described it as very good news. We would like to thank the Government for this move, as this will reduce a lot of expenses in procuring maids.

You can certainly recruit a maid directly without the services of an agency, but it will be your responsibility to ensure you get the necessary approvals from the Immigration Departments in Malaysia and in her home country. Only women from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and Laos are allowed to work here as maids or domestic helpers (although some of these countries have barred their citizens from coming to Malaysia to work as domestic helpers).

Malaysians who would like to hire maids directly would have to wait a bit. There are some details that are still unclear and we are sorting it out, so we suggest Malaysians to wait for a proper announcement before deciding to hire a maid directly.

applications to directly hire a maid will take about one week to 16 days to process. Direct recruitment of foreign maids from source countries would reduce the cost and burden of employers.