Starting in 2024, the Malaysian authorities set a new minimum wage of RM1,700 per month for private-sector workers. However, this is not extended to household employees, such as housekeepers, yard workers, childcare providers, and personal drivers.































This exemption has raised concerns about fair pay, particularly for those hired through licensed agencies like Agensi Pekerjaan Havannah Sdn Bhd.































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### Definition of Domestic Workers































In legal terms, domestic workers include those who perform home-based duties, such as:































- Live-in helpers















- Landscapers















- Elderly care aides















- Private drivers















- Cooks in private homes































These roles are excluded from Malaysia`s minimum wage regulations.































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### Why Are Domestic Workers Exempt?































The justification for the exemption is the nature of domestic work, which often includes:































- Flexible or irregular hours















- Accommodation and food provided















- Live-in arrangements































Because of this, the authorities believe it is impractical to enforce a fixed minimum wage to this group.































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### How This Affects Employers































If you hire a domestic helper, here’s what this means for you:































1. **No Legal Duty to Pay RM1,700**















You don’t have a legal obligation pay RM1,700 to your domestic worker.































2. **Wages are Based on Agreement**















Wages can be negotiated depending on the worker’s nationality, experience, and duties.































3. **Still Bound by Other Labor Laws**















This includes:















- Ensuring a safe workplace















- Allowing proper rest















- Preventing exploitation































Working with a reputable firm such as Agensi Pekerjaan Havannah Sdn Bhd can help reduce risks of misunderstanding.































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### Impact on Household Workers































For domestic workers:































1. **May Earn Below RM1,700**















Many receive less than RM1,700.































2. **Greater Risk of Exploitation**















Especially if no formal contract exists or if they are hired informally.































3. **Source Countries Provide Guidelines**















For example:















- Philippines requires USD 400/month (~RM1,800)















- Indonesia Maid mandates work condition requirements































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### Ongoing Debate































There are increasing calls for the government to:































- Recognize household workers under minimum wage policies















- Professionalize domestic work















- Prevent abuse through better laws































Agensi Pekerjaan Havannah Sdn Bhd is committed to compliant recruitment, ensuring both employer and employee rights are balanced.































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### Final Thoughts































While the RM1,700 minimum wage applies to most sectors, domestic helpers remain excluded. This makes it important for employers to provide reasonable compensation.































Hiring through trusted names such as Agensi Pekerjaan Havannah Sdn Bhd helps ensure clarity.