Maid Pass (PLKS)

Before you can employ a foreign domestic worker in Malaysia, you must first confirm your eligibility as an employer. Malaysian citizens must be at least 21 years old with a monthly income of at least RM 5,000. Expatriates holding Employment Passes or Residence Pass-Talent must have a minimum salary of RM 5,000 per month and a work pass valid for at least 12 months. You must also have adequate accommodation for the domestic worker, which means providing a private room with basic amenities. Next, select a registered maid agency approved by the Malaysian Immigration Department. It is essential to use a licensed agency, as they are responsible for ensuring all legal procedures are followed correctly. Verify the agency's registration status on the Immigration Department's website or through the Ministry of Human Resources. The agency will guide you through the entire process, including choosing a worker from the approved source countries, handling documentation, and arranging for the worker's arrival and registration.

Your appointed maid agency will prepare and submit the Application for Foreign Domestic Helper to the Malaysian Immigration Department. This application includes detailed information about you as the employer, including your personal details, income proof, and residential address verification. The application also requires information about the proposed domestic worker, including their name, passport details, age, and source country. Supporting documents include copies of your passport or MyKad (for Malaysian citizens), your work pass (for expatriates), recent utility bills as proof of residence, a copy of your tenancy agreement or property title deed, and three recent passport-sized photographs. The agency will also submit a letter of undertaking (Surat Akuan) where you commit to complying with all regulations regarding the employment of foreign domestic workers. The application fee is approximately RM 500, and the processing time is typically 2 to 4 weeks. Once approved, you will receive a Letter of Approval (Surat Kelulusan) from the Immigration Department.

After receiving the Letter of Approval, the next step is to apply for a visa for the domestic worker to enter Malaysia. The maid agency will handle the visa application process through the Immigration Department and the Malaysian embassy or consulate in the worker's home country. The worker will need to submit their passport, complete a medical examination at an approved clinic in their home country, attend a pre-departure briefing, and sign an employment contract. The employment contract must specify the terms and conditions of employment, including salary, working hours, rest days, and other benefits as required by Malaysian law. Once the visa is approved, the worker will receive a Single Entry Visa (SEV) or Visa With Reference (VDR) to travel to Malaysia. The agency will coordinate the worker's travel arrangements, including flight booking and transportation from the airport to the employer's residence. The employer is responsible for covering the cost of the worker's travel to Malaysia.

Within 7 days of the domestic worker's arrival in Malaysia, the worker must undergo a mandatory medical screening at a government-approved clinic or hospital. The medical examination includes screening for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, syphilis, and malaria, as well as a general physical examination and pregnancy test. The worker must also attend a compulsory briefing session conducted by the Immigration Department. This briefing covers the rights and responsibilities of domestic workers in Malaysia, the terms of the PLKS, prohibited activities, and reporting mechanisms for grievances. The employer or a representative from the maid agency must accompany the worker to the briefing. The medical screening costs approximately RM 150 to RM 250, and the briefing fee is around RM 50. If the worker fails the medical screening, the PLKS application cannot proceed, and the worker must be repatriated to their home country at the employer's expense.

After the medical screening and briefing are completed satisfactorily, the employer must pay the annual levy for the PLKS. The levy amount varies depending on the source country of the domestic worker. For workers from Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar, the levy is RM 500 per year. For workers from the Philippines, the levy is RM 1,800 per year. The levy can be paid online through the Immigration Department's portal, and the payment receipt must be submitted as part of the registration process. Once the levy is paid, the PLKS is registered in the Immigration Department's system, and the employer receives the official PLKS document. This document must be kept at the employer's residence and made available for inspection by immigration authorities. The worker's passport will be endorsed with the appropriate immigration pass. The employer must also ensure that the worker is registered with EPF (if applicable) and SOCSO, and that the mandatory insurance policy is in place.

After the PLKS is issued, the employer has ongoing responsibilities to ensure compliance with Malaysian laws. These include paying the worker's salary on time every month (at least the minimum wage of RM 1,200 to RM 1,500 depending on the source country), providing one rest day per week, ensuring adequate accommodation and food, providing medical treatment when needed, maintaining valid medical insurance coverage, and complying with all terms of the employment contract. The PLKS is valid for 12 to 24 months initially and must be renewed before expiry. The renewal process involves payment of the annual levy, confirmation that the worker continues to meet health requirements, and submission of a renewal application through the Immigration Department. The employer should start the renewal process at least 2 months before the PLKS expiry to avoid any gap in legality. If the worker's services are no longer required, the employer must cancel the PLKS and arrange for the worker's repatriation to their home country.