Hiring a Foreign Domestic Helper (Maid): Full List of Employer Responsibilities and Costs
Table of contents
If you're hiring a domestic helper (maid) from the Philippines or Indonesia to work in your home in Malaysia, you're responsible for more than just welcoming them and managing their work performance.
During their two-year contract, you'll need to take care of things like renewing their work permits, enrolling them in SOCSO, and making sure they have insurance. And, if you want them to stay on after their initial contract, you'll have to handle the contract renewal process.
We’ve put together this simple checklist to help you stay compliant and understand the estimated costs involved throughout and beyond your helper’s 2-year employment.
SOCSO Registration and Monthly Contribution - Every Month
If you’re a Malaysian employer, you are required by law to register your domestic helper for SOCSO (also known as PERKESO) and make monthly contributions under the Employment Injury and Invalidity Scheme.
As of July 2024, contributions are shared between the employer and the helper:
- Employer pays 1.75% of the helper’s monthly salary
- Helper pays 0.5%, which may be deducted from her salary
Not sure how much to contribute? We’ve outlined a salary-based breakdown in our full SOCSO guide here: Understanding compulsory SOCSO coverage for employers of domestic helpers (maids) in Malaysia
Pinkcollar offers a SOCSO Registration Service at RM500 (excluding 8% SST) to assist with the full registration process so you can easily manage your helper’s contributions going forward.
Work Permit Renewal - Every Year
All domestic helpers in Malaysia are employed under a work permit known as the Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) / Pas Lawatan (Kerja Sementara). This work permit must be renewed once a year to ensure your helper stays legal in Malaysia.
If you’re doing it yourself, you’ll need to manage:
- Government levy: RM610–RM811
- FOMEMA medical check-up: RM217
- Online submission via FWCMS (for Malaysian employers) or over-the-counter at Immigration (for expat employers)
You’ll also need to monitor your helper’s renewal timeline. Immigration advises all employers to start the permit renewal process at least 3 months before the current permit expires.
Want to save time and ensure everything is done right? At Pinkcollar, we offer a full Work Permit Renewal Service that gives you peace of mind and convenience, especially if you're managing a busy household or working full-time.
Surgical and Hospitalisation Insurance Renewal (SKHPPA by Zurich) - Every Year
SKHPPA insurance helps protect you from unexpected medical costs if your helper is hospitalised at a Malaysian Government Hospital due to an accident or illness (excluding pre-existing conditions or any medical conditions that are not checked in the FOMEMA medical check-up).
If you engage our placement services, Pinkcollar includes this coverage at no extra cost as part of our service fee during the first year of your helper's work permit. We believe that this coverage is a necessary safeguard for both employers and domestic helpers.
As the insurance is tied to the work permit, it must be renewed annually, typically together with the work permit renewal.
Your options for renewal:
- Renew it on your own through a Malaysian insurance provider.
- Let us help you renew it for RM300/year(excluding 8% SST).
Helper Contract Renewal – After the Initial 2-Year Contract
If you decide to continue employing your domestic helper beyond her initial 2-year contract, both the Philippine and Indonesian embassies require that her employment contract be officially renewed through a licensed agency.
Here’s what to know depending on your helper’s nationality:
- For Filipino Helpers (POEA/DMW Contract Renewal)
The Philippine Embassy requires the contract to be renewed every 2 years. For the first 4 years of employment, only licensed agencies can assist with this.
After that, employers may handle the renewal themselves but only if two contracts have already been registered (entering employment year 5 & 6 onwards).
Pinkcollar's POEA/DMW Contract Renewal Fees:
• 2-year renewal: RM2,200
• 1-year renewal: RM1,500
(Excluding 8% SST)
- For Indonesian Helpers
Unlike Filipino contract renewals, employers must continue using an agency for Indonesian renewals regardless of how many years they’ve employed the helper. This is a requirement set by the Indonesian Embassy, and contracts may only be renewed 1 year at a time.
Pinkcollar’s Indonesian Contract Renewal Fee:
• 1-year renewal: RM1,500 (excluding 8% SST)
Learn more about our Employment Contract Registration services here.
Full Breakdown of Employer Responsibilities & Costs
| Responsibility | Frequency | Frequency Handled by Employer | Pinkcollar Service (excluding 8% SST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCSO Contribution (Malaysian Employers only) | Monthly | SOCSO Contribution (Malaysian Employers only) | RM500 (one-time for initial registration only) |
| Work Permit Renewal | Annually | RM610–RM811 (Gov levy) + RM217 (FOMEMA) | RM1,700 (Malaysians) / RM2,000 (Expatriates) |
| SKHPPA Insurance (Zurich) | Annually | Varies by insurer | RM300/year |
| Filipino Contract Renewal | After standard 2-year contract ends (every 2 years if continued) | Agency engagement required for first 4 years | RM2,200 (2-year) / RM1,500 (1-year) |
| Indonesian Contract Renewal | After standard 2-year contract ends (renewable 1 year at a time) | Agency engagement required | RM1,500 (1-year only) |
Hopefully, this checklist gives you a solid foundation and makes you feel more ready to handle everything involved in employing a domestic helper in Malaysia.
There’s a lot to stay on top of—but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s work permit renewals, SOCSO registration, or contract renewals, Pinkcollar is here to help you every step of the way. Need support with any of the services above? Reach out to us here.