MINISTRY MAY REDUCE LEVY FOR EMPLOYING INDONESIAN MAIDS

KLUANG (Malaysia), 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 S. Subramaniam 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 Saturday.

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.

-- BERNAMA