Avoiding scams and pitfalls when hiring a maid in Malaysia

Ask for the agency's licence and its number, and the name of the company that holds it. As an example of what to ask for, ours is on our licence page: Agensi Pekerjaan Genesis Life Care Sdn Bhd holds PEA Licence B No. 1681, valid 15 Sep 2025 to 14 Sep 2027, and Maids in Malaysia is its trading name.

Source: Maids in Malaysia licence page. Last checked 5 November 2026.

JIM says that after approval the employer makes the levy, PLKS, visa and processing payments. If you are asked to pay any of these before approval, ask what the payment is for and who it is paid to. Ask for an itemised quote that lists each payment separately. The amounts are being checked against the official sources; our Rules and fees page shows the step where each is paid.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English. Last checked 5 November 2026.

JIM says applications to hire an Indonesian domestic helper must be made through a Malaysian private employment agency and an Indonesian placement agency only. JIM's page also says her contract must be certified by the Indonesian Embassy. Applying yourself at the Immigration counter is not open for a helper from Indonesia. Ask for the agency's licence and its number.

Sources: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English; Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Pembantu Rumah Asing page, Malay. Last checked 5 November 2026.

JIM's Malay page says an employer can apply at the Immigration counter for a foreign domestic helper themselves, except for helpers from Indonesia and the Philippines. So the counter route is not open for a helper from the Philippines. Ask which route will be used, and for the agency's licence and its number.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Pembantu Rumah Asing page, Malay. Last checked 5 November 2026.

JIM sets a maximum entry cost of RM15,000 for an Indonesian helper hired through a Malaysia Recruitment Agency. Ask for an itemised quote, so you can see what each part of the cost is for.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Pembantu Rumah Asing page, Malay. Last checked 5 November 2026.

JIM's rules apply to every helper, whoever offers her. She must be a woman aged 21 to 45, resident in her country of origin. JIM says a Muslim employer may hire only a Muslim helper. If she is already working in Malaysia, the rules on taking over a helper apply (next question). Ask for the agency's licence and its number.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English. Last checked 5 November 2026.

Only within JIM's rules. A helper can change employer only in the first year of her PLKS, and the change needs the written consent of the old employer (Lampiran A). The Act says an employer must tell the Director General within 30 days of employing a foreign domestic employee, and within 30 days of her service ending. Whether these sections apply to a household employer is being checked.

Sources: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Pembantu Rumah Asing page, Malay; Employment Act 1955 (Act 265), Labour Department (JTKSM) copy. Last checked 5 November 2026.

JIM sets the steps: section 60K approval, the VDR application, her visa, the FOMEMA medical within 30 days of arrival, then her PLKS. JIM says her PLKS is endorsed for 12 months if she is fit, and that if she fails the FOMEMA examination she must be sent back to her home country. Ask what the date or the guarantee depends on, and get it in writing.

Sources: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English; Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Pembantu Rumah Asing page, Malay. Last checked 5 November 2026.

Advice from the Ministry of Human Resources guidelines is that the helper must keep her passport in her possession at all times. The guidelines' sample contract lets her hand it over only for medical screening, the visit pass application, the foreign workers identity card and visit pass renewal. These are advice and a sample contract, not a statement of the law. If anyone asks you to hand over or hold her passport for another reason, ask why.

Source: Guidelines and Tips for Employers of Foreign Domestic Helpers, Ministry of Human Resources (Labour Department). Last checked 5 November 2026.

The Ministry of Human Resources guidelines say deducting wages for food is strictly prohibited. On advances, the guidelines suggest no more than one month's salary, in writing, with no interest. They also advise paying her salary into her own bank savings account so there is a record. The guidelines are guidance from the Ministry, not the text of the Act.

Source: Guidelines and Tips for Employers of Foreign Domestic Helpers, Ministry of Human Resources (Labour Department). Last checked 5 November 2026.

JIM says the employer reports at the Immigration office with a police report and an abscondment form. If a helper absconds, the employer pays bail on the personal bond. The Act says absconding counts as the helper terminating her service (section 57B), and that an employer must tell the Director General within 30 days of her service ending. The Act says the fine for each failure to notify is up to RM50,000. Whether these sections apply to a household employer is being checked.

Sources: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English; Employment Act 1955 (Act 265), Labour Department (JTKSM) copy. Last checked 5 November 2026.

She must have the FOMEMA medical within 30 days of arrival. The Act says an employer of a foreign domestic employee must tell the Director General within 30 days of employing her (section 57A); whether this applies to a household employer is being checked. PERKESO says the employer must register with PERKESO and contribute for her. The pass is extended online through FWCMS within 90 days before it expires, and when employment ends the employer applies for a Check Out Memo (eCOM) through MyPASS@JIM.

Sources: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English; Employment Act 1955 (Act 265), Labour Department (JTKSM) copy; PERKESO, Domestic workers page. Last checked 5 November 2026.

Under the work pass, a helper must be certified healthy by FOMEMA. JIM says that if she fails the examination, she must be sent back to her home country. Before you pay, ask what happens to the costs in that case, and get the answer in writing.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English. Last checked 5 November 2026.

When we place a helper, your family is her legal employer, never one of our group companies. The official rules on this page put the duties on the employer: registering and contributing with PERKESO, and reporting at the Immigration office if she absconds (JIM).

Sources: PERKESO, Domestic workers page; Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) page, English. Last checked 5 November 2026.