ADDITIONAL COST CHARGED BY AGENCIES REASON FOR HIGHER INDONESIAN MAID FEES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- An additional cost of RM4,000 (US$1,230)
charged by Indonesian employment agencies is the primary cause why it costs more
to hire Indonesian maids, the House of Representatives was told Tuesday.

Deputy Home Minister Jelaing Mersat said the additional cost was not listed
in the memorandum of understanding (M0U) signed by the two countries in 2006.

"The additional cost is to get maids in districts and villages of that
country," he said.

Jelaing said this when replying to a question by Fong Po Kuan, a Member of
Parliament (MP) on the cost of recruiting Indonesian maids that involved sums of
between RM7,000 (US$2, 153) and RM8,000 (US$2,461).

He said in the MoU the amount stated was RM2,415 (US$743) and that included
cost of travel from Indonesia to Malaysia; payment of levy; visa permit work;
imigration processes; fee process costs; and health examination costs.

"The maids also had to bear costs in Indonesia that came close to RM1,2000
(US$369)," he said.

Jelaing said only the costs that were set between Malaysia and Indonesia
as per the MoU between the countries could be controlled while additional costs
by employment agencies could not be done so.

-- BERNAMA