New financial scheme to help Indonesian maids

SINGAPORE — The Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) (AEAS) will be working with local agencies to roll out a new financial scheme for Indonesian maids, which was initiated by the Indonesian government.

The Household Service Workers Industry Scheme (HIS) is part of Indonesia’s long-term plan to improve and protect the welfare of its domestic workers.

Under the scheme, Indonesian domestic workers will take up a loan from Maybank Indonesia to cover their placement fees and other costs. Currently, employers pay these fees up front and deduct the money from the maid’s salary each month.

Both employers and domestic workers will have transparency in fee structure, said the AEAS yesterday.

The domestic worker will also benefit as “she cannot be charged any fees when she transfers from one employer to another”.

The AEAS signed an agreement with the Indonesian National Board for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers for the new scheme in February.

Only Indonesian domestic workers who are on the scheme will be allowed to leave Indonesia to work.

To support the HIS, AEAS will also implement a certification for employment agencies, called EA Trust.

The EA Trust is a “holistic programme” that helps employers to identify agencies which can bring in Indonesian domestic workers “who have committed to adopt industry best practices”, the AEAS said.

So far, 89 employment agencies have been certified under the EA Trust, and they are identifiable with a certificate and decal displayed on their premises.