Supply of Indonesian maids expected to fall next year
By Seet Sok Hwee, Karen Ng | Posted: 09 December 2012 2145 hrs
File photo: A maid at work.
SINGAPORE: Maid agencies expect the number of Indonesian maids coming to work in Singapore to drop by 30 per cent, once the minimum wage for all Indonesians kicks in next month.
With the minimum wage, salaries for those working in Jakarta can go up to S$300 per month.
This may cause the maids to choose to work in Jakarta instead of Singapore.
Some domestic helpers from Indonesia say they enjoy better labour benefits there.
Besides, it is closer to their hometown and the cost of living there is not as high as in Singapore.
Maid agencies say Singaporeans should pay their maids more to make it more attractive for them to come here to work.
From January, all foreign maids in Singapore will be getting one mandatory day off per week instead of having no days off.
Some employers say they would rather pay more to their maids - to get them to work on their rest days.
"The employers themselves are working. So we do know, due to some feedback, they would like to have their own rest day during the weekend," said Carene Chin, executive director of Homekeeper Maid Agency.
"So (employers) don't mind paying extra to compensate the maid to have their rest day."
There are maids who welcome the chance to earn more money.
"I prefer to work. One day (off), one time in one month is ok for me already. So I can send more money to my family," said a maid working in Singapore.
- CNA/xq
