“(Domestic) workers have started to arrive. Employers no longer need to be desperate. We shouldn’t encourage employers to do this,” he told reporters at an event.

He was responding to a report by The Star that some desperate employers have turned to social media and freelance agents to hire maids after arrivals were delayed.

The first batch of maids was expected to arrive on May 31. However, it was later reported that the process would be delayed due to pre-departure training followed by a competency test which could take two to three weeks.

The maids that have arrived are the first batch under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Under the MoU, aimed at better ensuring the welfare and protection of Indonesian maids, they will be paid the current monthly minimum wage of RM1,500.