The easiest way to go about hiring a maid is to go with a maid agency in Malaysia that will handle everything for you if that’s your plan. You may have heard, nevertheless, that you can cut costs by finding a maid on your own and employing her without the assistance of a maid agency.

 

Given that many people are dissatisfied with maid agencies for charging them hidden fees along the way, blowing their budgets, and just not being upfront about the cost from the beginning, hiring a helper on your own without the assistance of a maid agency has been considered by many at all times.

 

Despite the idea of hiring a maid without an accredited maid agency being much more affordable, hiring a maid without an agency does, however, present some difficulties because many people are unaware of the proper methods.

 

If you’re not sure how to do it, we break down in this article the steps, requirements and pros and cons of hiring a maid on your own in Malaysia today.

 

The MaidOnline System (SMO)

What is the SMO?

Our government, specifically the Immigration Department, launched the Sistem Maid Online website on January 1st, 2018. This allows people to hire foreign domestic workers directly from the website at a significantly lower cost than through an agent. The entire procedure, which includes a levy (a fee), deposit, and processing fee, among other expenses, can be finished in as little as eight days and costs between RM 1,600 and RM 2,500. The system’s processing duration for maids is 2-3 months, which is similar to maid agencies in Malaysia.

 

How this system works relies on a conversion system. Domestic workers will enter Malaysia via a Social Visit Pass, also known as a tourist visa which will then be converted into a valid work permit as per usual for maids in Malaysia. This procedure can only take place after the maid/foreign domestic helper passes her on-arrival health examination (FOMEMA).

 

The SMO only allows Malaysian citizens to access it and does not allow expatriates in Malaysia to utilize it.

 

However, it is not a perfect system…

While the SMO is invented by the Malaysian government to ease the burdens of Malaysian employers, particularly to avoid maid agency fees, it is susceptible to risks and has been by some as a flawed system. The Philippines and Indonesian Governments have not recognised the SMO due to the danger it poses to their people who intend to work as maids in Malaysia. The portal makes it possible for Malaysian employers to recruit maids without needing to register employment contracts with the embassies of the source nation. As a result, the gateway might be abused by human traffickers and independent contractors who can find and hire people without the embassies’ oversight and other necessary safeguards.

 

Additionally, there is also a risk of you as an employer being scammed by the maid after paying for her flight ticket to Malaysia as this will be borne by yourself. The maid might just disappear and ghost you after she has arrived in Malaysia, making it a difficulty for Malaysians to manage arrival of their maids.

 

Requirements and Steps to Hire a Maid on Your Own

Requirements: For The Maid

 

1. 1. Must be female, between the ages of 21 to 45 at the time of application

1. 1. The maid must be only from these 9 allowed countries:

       

      • • Indonesia
      • • Philippines
      • • Sri Lanka
      • • Thailand
      • • India
      • • Laos
      • • Nepal
      • • Vietnam
      • • Cambodia

1. 1. The maid must not be blacklisted by the Immigration Department

1. 1. The maid must not have a temporary working visa that is active with another employer

Requirements: For The Employer

 

1. 1. Employers must be Malaysian or permanent residents of Malaysia

1. 1. Employers must be married, and must have either:

       

      • • Child or children under the age of 15
      • • Child or children that are disabled or differently abled
      • • Parent(s) who are of advanced age
      • • Employers with husband or wife who needs care
      • • A family member who needs care (limited to siblings and grandparents)

1. 1. Proof must be shown if there are family members that need to be taken care of (medical reports and proof of relationship)

1. 1. Employment of a maid to take care of a family member is only allowed if said family member does not have stable income

1. 1. The minimum income of the family of employer has to be between RM 3000 to RM 5000, depending on the country of origin of the maid

1. 1. A couple (husband and wife) may only have 1 maid employed at any time

1. 1. The husband’s name is suggested to be the registered employer’s name

1. 1. Single parents may employ a maid subject to minimum income levels. Single individuals are allowed to employ maids to take care of their parent(s)

1. 1. These people are NOT ALLOWED to hire maids:

       

      • • declared bankrupt
      • • on the Department of Labour’s blacklist
      • • has issues pending with the Immigration Department

1. 1. Muslim employers can only hire Muslim maids

1. 1. The resulting employment contract between the employer and the maid must be fulfilled

The Process Flowchart

 

1. 1. Register and Login into SMO website

1. 1. Register as an Employer and Fill up the PRA

1. 1. FOMEMA

1. 1. Upload relevant documents

1. 1. Wait for approval

1. 1. Make payment

Hire A Maid Who Is Already In Malaysia (Transfer)

Some maids are allowed to be legally transferred between employers in Malaysia.

 

A Malaysian or foreign employer may choose to apply for a work permit transfer at Malaysian immigration without the need for a licenced agency if they have found a Filipino maid who can be lawfully transferred to them. They must still work with a certified and licenced Malaysian agency, meanwhile, in order to register their initial Philippine employment contract.

 

An employer must work with a licenced and accredited Malaysian agency for both the work permit transfer application for the maid at the Malaysian immigration and the registration of their first Indonesian employment contract if they have found an Indonesian domestic helper who can be legally transferred to them.

 

Pros And Cons

Pros of Using a Maid Agency

 

Streamlined Process And Administrative Ease

During the recruiting process, there are a lot of legal and administrative things to set up, like employment contracts, immigration paperwork, health exams, insurance applications, plane tickets to Malaysia, airport transportation, and more.

All administrative tasks are managed by maid agencies, which simplifies the process and leaves you free to concentrate on selecting the best applicant. Despite the SMO, many Malaysians are still complicated on the lengthy, complex process of hiring a maid.

 

Access To A Larger Pool Of Pre-Screened Candidates

There is a large candidate pool available through maid agencies. In addition, certain organisations, like Innovedge Maid, screen each applicant individually before entering them into the database. By ensuring that the assistants fulfil specific requirements, this pre-screening procedure spares you the trouble of reviewing applicants who might not even be somewhat qualified.

Agencies will then go through their candidate pool based on your needs and choose a shortlist of applicants who fit your requirements, saving you time and effort by avoiding the need to go through numerous resumes.

 

Replacement Guarantee

Making sure a domestic assistant is a suitable fit for your home is important when choosing one. The majority of maid agencies are aware of this necessity and provide a replacement guarantee while the maid is on probation, this is also known as a warranty period. This assurance serves as an essential safety net, guaranteeing that you won’t be placed in a difficult situation in the event that the hired assistant falls short of your household’s expectations or demands.

If the first placement doesn’t work out, you can choose from a list of substitute applicants if you have an agency’s replacement guarantee. This procedure is designed to be easy to follow and effective, causing the least amount of disturbance to your regular routine.

 

Cons of Using A Maid Agency

Potential For Miscommunication

There could be a breakdown in communication between you, the agency, and the maid, which could result in miscommunications or low expectations. For example, the agency could not have fully understood your particular criteria, which could lead to a mismatch in the shortlist of candidates they present. This is why it is important to always communicate and get to know your desired maid agency before any confirmation!

Higher Cost of Hiring

Although maid agencies are convenient, they are frequently more expensive. Certain maid agencies could impose additional costs on top of the regular expenses for necessary services like housing, transportation, paperwork, and orientation sessions. These unforeseen costs have the potential to greatly raise your overall expenditure. Furthermore, some organisations might not be completely forthcoming about these extra expenses, which could result in a final total that is significantly more than the original estimate.

Here at Innovedge, our prices are reasonable as we want our clients to receive value for money. Additionally to our top-notch services for your hiring needs, our guiding principle is transparency: the price you see up front is the price you pay. We think it’s important to be entirely transparent about all expenses so there are no unpleasant surprises or extra charges.

 

Pros of Hiring Without An Agency

Lower Cost

It might be less expensive to hire yourself because there are no agency costs thanks to the SMO. You avoid having to pay an agency for the services they provide and all of the other fees that arise along the hiring process. Since different agencies charge different amounts depending on which you visit, it is difficult to estimate how much you can save.

However, Malaysians have to understand that there is actually not much of a cost difference between hiring a maid on your own and engaging with a maid agency. In reality, the small price difference might not be worth the additional work and time needed when you take into account the value of the services and convenience we offer.

 

Direct Communication

You can speak with candidates more efficiently when you hire directly, bypassing an agency. You can search for a candidate that precisely matches your needs with the correct talents, charisma, and character as you take control of the conversation, reducing the possibility of misunderstandings and miscommunication. Nonetheless, maid agencies are still able to provide you a wider selection of maid candidates and arrange effective live interviews for you and your desired helper.

 

Should I Hire A Maid Without An Agency?

If you’re willing to take full responsibility and control over the administrative and selection process of hiring a maid, there is no harm in trying to hire a maid on your own using the SMO system. Though you might save a few thousand of ringgit, many Malaysians still prefer engaging a trusted, licensed maid agency for peace of mind as it is much more convenient and efficient. Having a maid agency to guide and assist you in getting your perfect maid is considered as a necessity by many, especially in busy households.

 

As Malaysia’s top maid agency for 20 years, we are always ready to assist you in your maid hiring journey and provide solutions for any maid issues. Feel free to reach out to us and we hope you enjoyed this article!