He told FMT that the delay has been caused by the pre-departure training followed by a competency test which could take two to three weeks.

“We want to ensure that the workers can perform their duties in accordance with the provisions of the MoU (memorandum of understanding).

“For those who have experience working as maids abroad, the training can be shorter as long as they pass the competency test.

“For fresh applicants, it could take two to three weeks and they must sit for a competency test which will be the yardstick before they are allowed to work abroad,” he said when asked about the delay.

Quoting Hermono, a news portal reported on May 25 that the first batch of maids was expected to arrive on May 31.

When asked about the number of maids involved in the first batch, he said it depends on the job order from Malaysian employment agencies and the issuing of work permits by the immigration department.

“As far as the embassy is concerned, we have decided to facilitate the processing under the One Channel System although the Malaysian network is still being finalised.”

Recent reports had said that there could be about 100 maids coming in first but it could not be confirmed.

These maids will be the first batch under the MoU on the recruitment and protection of maids that Malaysia and Indonesia signed on April 1, after delays caused by disagreement on certain clauses.

Under the MoU, Indonesian maids will be paid the current monthly minimum wage of RM1,500.