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Working in Malaysia as a domestic worker: requirements, costs, pay and work permit

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated and verified

Open Domestic worker through the One Channel System

Open through licensed P3MI agencies. The 2022 MoU sets a one channel system for domestic placements, and Malaysian Immigration lists Indonesia as an approved source country.

Status as of 7 October 2026 Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)

Summary

  • The MoU of 1 April 2022 on Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia sets a single-channel system (One Channel System) from recruitment to supervision.
  • Malaysian Immigration lists Indonesia as an approved source country for foreign domestic helpers; workers must be women aged 21 to 45.
  • Malaysia's national minimum wage does not cover domestic workers, so pay is set in the contract.
  • The employer must pay wages at least by the last week of each month and cover your medical treatment while the work pass is valid.
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On this page
  1. What are the requirements?
  2. What does it cost and who pays?
  3. How much does it pay?
  4. Which visa is used?
  5. What are the steps?
  6. Which schools or training lead to Malaysia?
  7. What must a domestic worker's employer in Malaysia provide?
  8. Which documents do you need to work as a domestic worker in Malaysia?
  9. What are the warning signs of offers to Malaysia through this route?
Official routes, who runs them, and their legal basis
Route Run by Official link Who pays placement costs Legal basis
Domestic worker through the One Channel System Pembantu Rumah Asing · Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) Through a licensed P3MI agency Immigration Department of Malaysia Official source For placement through a P3MI, the employer bears placement costs. You may be charged only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. See the cost rules Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)

See this route in the comparison table

What do you need to work in Malaysia through Domestic worker through the One Channel System?

Placement channels from Indonesia for working in Malaysia through Domestic worker through the One Channel System: Through a licensed P3MI agency. Age limits: 21 to 45 years.

Placement channels from Indonesia
Through a licensed P3MI agency
Age
21 to 45 years
Job types
Domestic worker (foreign domestic helper) for household tasks

What does working in Malaysia through Domestic worker through the One Channel System cost, and who pays?

For placement through a P3MI on the Domestic worker through the One Channel System route to Malaysia, the employer bears placement costs. Migrant workers may not be charged them, and you may pay only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement.

  1. Law 18/2017 Article 30(1): Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  2. Ministerial Regulation P2MI 17/2025: the employer bears placement costs. A worker may be charged only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)
  3. Any request for money outside that document, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.

Cost rules for this route

  • Medical treatment during work: Malaysian Immigration says the employer is responsible for the foreign domestic helper's medical treatment while the work pass is valid. Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)
  • Charges in Indonesia: Placement-cost components, including training, certification, passport, medical checks and social security, are borne by the employer unless a lawful exception applies. Any cost charged to you must be written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)

What is the minimum pay for working in Malaysia through Domestic worker through the One Channel System?

Not enough data: we have not found an official pay floor for this route that we could verify.

Which visa do you need to work in Malaysia through Domestic worker through the One Channel System?

Pas Lawatan (Kerja Sementara): Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment), also used for foreign domestic helpers, applied for by the employer at Malaysian Immigration together with a Visa With Reference (VDR). Official source

What are the steps to work in Malaysia through Domestic worker through the One Channel System?

  1. Create your own SISKOP2MI account, choose a P3MI and a job, and upload your documents. Registration on SISKOP2MI is free of charge.
  2. Take part in the P3MI selection for the job qualifications listed in that agency's job order (SIP2MI).
  3. Sign the Placement Agreement after a placement officer explains it, then complete the medical and psychological checks and register for social security.
  4. The Malaysian employer applies directly or through an agency registered with Malaysian Immigration. You stay in Indonesia and enter on a Visa With Reference (VDR).
  5. Attend the pre-departure orientation (OPP) and make sure you hold an E-KPMI, issued free through SISKOP2MI.
  6. After arrival, take the medical check at a clinic appointed by FOMEMA; Immigration issues the PLKS sticker within one month of arrival.

The order and timings are editor estimates, not promises.

Which schools or training lead to Malaysia?

The education and training routes linked to working in Malaysia through Domestic worker through the One Channel System: LPK training institutes in Indonesia, BLK and BPVP, BNSP competency certification in Indonesia.

What must a domestic worker's employer in Malaysia provide?

Malaysian Immigration sets conditions for employers of foreign domestic helpers. The employer must provide a room with basic facilities, nutritious food and proper rest, including sleeping time. Non-Muslim employers of a Muslim worker must respect her worship, including the five daily prayers and fasting in Ramadan. Employers and agencies may not hit the worker or do anything that injures her.

Which documents do you need to work as a domestic worker in Malaysia?

Documents in Indonesia follow Law 18/2017 Article 13 and Regulation P2MI 2/2026: national ID card, marital-status letter, permission from your spouse, parents or guardian acknowledged by the village head or lurah, competency certificate, JKN card, health certificate, social security, passport, work visa, Placement Agreement and employment contract. Malaysian Immigration requires foreign domestic helpers to be declared fit by an appointed medical centre. Panduan Warga passport guide

What are the warning signs of offers to Malaysia through this route?

  • You are told to enter Malaysia first as a tourist and then work. Foreign domestic helpers must be in their home country and enter on a Visa With Reference (VDR).Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)
  • You are recruited outside the One Channel System agreed in the 2022 MoU, for example directly by an employer or an individual on social media.Kementerian Sekretariat Negara RI
  • You are made to do work outside household tasks, such as washing cars, which Malaysian Immigration excludes from a domestic helper's duties.
  • Wages are not paid every month, or are held back for months for any reason.
  • You are moved to another employer without Malaysian Immigration's permission.Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)
  • The recruiter cannot show a P3MI listed as active on SISKOP2MI and a job order in that agency's name.KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI)

How to check a P3MI agency in 5 steps Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers

KarirAman is 100% free. We never ask for money. Our no-fee policy

Not legal advice. Always check SISKOP2MI before you sign up.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum wage for domestic workers in Malaysia?

Malaysia's national minimum wage does not apply to domestic workers, according to Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources. Your pay is set in the employment contract. Read the wage, payment method and days off in the contract before you sign.

What is the One Channel System?

The One Channel System is the mechanism Indonesia and Malaysia agreed in the MoU of 1 April 2022 for placing Indonesian domestic workers. According to Indonesia's State Secretariat, it is used from recruitment to supervision, so recruitment outside that channel does not follow the two countries' agreement.

Can I change employers in Malaysia?

Not without permission. Malaysian Immigration says foreign domestic helpers may not change jobs or employers without its permission. If you have problems with your employer, contact the Indonesian mission or KP2MI.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment) Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia) · accessed
  2. Indonesia-Malaysia sepakati MoU perlindungan pekerja migran Indonesia di Malaysia Kementerian Sekretariat Negara RI · accessed
  3. Perintah Gaji Minimum berkuat kuasa sepenuhnya 1 Ogos 2025 (kenyataan KESUMA, laporan RTM) Radio Televisyen Malaysia (Portal Berita RTM), quoting Kementerian Sumber Manusia Malaysia · official statement via media · accessed
  4. Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
  5. Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed
  6. Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 2 Tahun 2026 tentang Tata Cara Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia oleh Pelaksana Penempatan Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 2/2026 · accessed
  7. Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 34 Tahun 2025 tentang Kartu Pekerja Migran Indonesia Elektronik Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 34/2025 · accessed
  8. SISKOP2MI: daftar P3MI, detail status dan daftar P3MI dengan sanksi administratif KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI) · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Working in Malaysia as a domestic worker: requirements, costs, pay and work permit. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/domestic-worker/

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