Malaysia is one of the preferred work destinations together with Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Middle East among Filipinos because of the many opportunities presented to them for employment.
And because Malaysia is relatively closer to the Philippines than other countries in the region, Filipinos who want to work as domestic helpers abroad also consider applying here. In this post, we will share some helpful tips and give you an idea of the salary package of a domestic helper in Malaysia. If you’re interested to learn more, continue reading below…
Disclaimer: The information published is based on the research at the time of the posting of the content by the vlogger/YouTuber. The information provided may change without prior notice and may differ in actual scenarios. Let this article serve as a guide only.
Here is the video guide shared by a Filipina domestic helper in Malaysia, Nene Luns on YouTube. If you find her content helpful, you may check out her YouTube channel to catch more interesting videos about her work and life as an OFW in Malaysia.
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Salary and Helpful Tips for First-time Domestic Helpers in Malaysia
As with other overseas jobs, working as a domestic helper is not an easy thing. You need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally ready for the sacrifices you have to make during your stay overseas.
But these sacrifices won’t go to waste, especially if you’re a hardworking and responsible person. Work as a domestic helper provides well for your family. How much exactly? Let’s find out…
Salary packages for domestic helpers here in Malaysia vary per nationality mainly because of differences in exchange rates.
This means that the salary of a Filipino domestic helper is different from that of an Indonesian worker, and so on.
Also, the minimum salary for Filipino domestic helpers is USD 400 per month (approximately RM 1,700 or Php 19,500). The amount will vary based on the current exchange rates. Employers can give extra allowances on top of the minimum salary or offer a higher salary package as there are no existing laws on the maximum salary for domestic helpers in Malaysia.
So, the next question is: “Is this enough?” At the time of the vlogger’s recording, the RM to PhP exchange rate was at 13 that’s why she was earning over Php 21,000 at the time. She also mentioned that her contract does not allow her to take days off, but she will be paid an additional RM 65 for each of those days she will work on weekends.
Nene has agreed to the contract and decided to just earn extra instead of taking days off. As you can see, you also get to discuss with your employer how many days off you can have in a month. In her case, she was not given any days off because her employers need her at home during weekends to look after the kids.
According to our resource vlogger, she’s fortunate to work in a nice household which gives her the freedom to do her work without much supervision and demands from them. Nene said this is one of the reasons why she was able to renew her contract and stay for over three years with her current employer.
But aside from the salary and benefits that she gets from her work, Nene shares a few helpful tips that helped her overcome the challenges of working abroad as a domestic helper:
#1 You Must Have the Right Mindset.
If you know your purpose and are prepared to take on new challenges at work and in your new life abroad, you can overcome all hardships. Also, setting goals for yourself will help you keep focused on the things you need to do and achieve more.
#2 Keep Your Communication Lines Open.
According to Nene, every OFW’s worst enemy has a name: homesickness. Although reminiscing about your life and family in the Philippines is normal, you should not fall into the trap of homesickness which usually leads to loneliness or depression.
One tried and tested method to overcome homesickness is by keeping in touch with your loved ones regularly.
To do this, be sure to check your contract and read the terms regarding the use of your mobile phone and how often you can use it to call your family back home.
Nene shares that though it’s hard to not physically be present for your loved ones’ important life events such as birthdays, graduations, etc., talking to them regularly somehow lessens the pain and feeling of missing out in their lives.
#3 Develop Multitasking Skills.
You will realize that your important asset as a domestic helper, more than your skills and attitude is your time. Nene shares that working in a household with children can easily overwhelm you with a pile of workloads and tasks to get on top of every day.
Because of this, you must learn to develop multitasking skills and effective time management. Having a consistent routine and techniques to accomplish tasks as fast as you can, will play to your advantage once you start working as a domestic helper anywhere in the world.
In Nene’s case, since she has to keep an eye on the kids all the time, she does most of her tasks with them in sight. For example, it’s time for the children to have their meals, she joins them so by the time she finishes, she can take care of cleaning up and doing the dishes next.
And after some time, when the kids are already tired and sleepy, she also takes a quick nap with them since they all stay in one room. This frees up some of her time and allows her to rest before she does other tasks in the afternoon like ironing clothes and then preparing dinner for the whole family.
#4 Take Good Care of Your Health.
Although it’s obvious why we should take care of our health, Nene explains that having enough time to rest and to take care of your body will lead to having more energy, being able to do more, and in effect, having more satisfaction in your job.
More than the ability to find work, experienced OFWs can give us important insights that we can learn from so that we can be more effective at our jobs and to enjoy life as an OFW, as well.
Are there any more tips you would like to add to what Nene shared with us? What experiences taught you the most important lessons you’ve learned as an OFW? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below!
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