The official rules and figures for hiring a maid in Malaysia: who can hire, income and bond by country, PERKESO and the Employment Act, each sourced and dated.
These are the official rules and figures for hiring a foreign domestic helper in Malaysia. Each row gives the rule in our own words, the official source it comes from, and the date we last checked it. None of these figures are ours. Where an official amount is not shown yet, we say so.
This guide is published by Agensi Pekerjaan Genesis Life Care Sdn Bhd (PEA Licence B No. 1681), a maid agency. Maids in Malaysia is its trading name.
Your family is the helper's legal employer. Last checked: 5 November 2026. Next check by 4 February 2027.
Short forms used here: JIM is the Immigration Department (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia). PERKESO is the social security organisation (Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial). EPF is the Employees Provident Fund (KWSP). VDR is the Visa With Reference. PLKS, as JIM writes it, is the Visitor's Pass Sticker (Temporary Employment), PL(KS).
Who can hire
Rule, in our words
Source
Last checked
You and your spouse have a child under 15, or parents who are sick or ill.
JIM's Malay page lists approval under section 60K of the Employment Act 1955 as the first step, applied for online through the Labour Department portal.
JIM sets a minimum wage of RM1,500 a month for an Indonesian helper. This figure is for Indonesian helpers. We have no confirmed figure for other countries.
After approval, the employer makes the levy, PLKS, visa and processing payments, as a step in the Immigration Department's process. We are checking the current official amounts. We will add each one with its source when it is confirmed.
This is what the law says, not legal advice. We read the reprint on the Labour Department's website. Whether these sections apply to a household employer is being checked.
Rule, in our words
Source
Last checked
Section 57: the Act says either side may end a domestic employee's contract by giving 14 days' notice, or by paying 14 days' wages instead.
Section 57B: the Act says the employer must tell the Director General within 30 days of her service ending. If she absconds, the Act counts that as her ending her service.
Section 60K: the Act says an employer must have the Director General's prior approval before employing a foreign employee. JIM lists this approval as the first step (see Applying, above).
Maids in Malaysia