Can an Indonesian domestic helper work seven days a week?

An Indonesian domestic helper has one contractual rest day each week. She may voluntarily agree to work on a scheduled rest day for compensation at 1.5 times the pro-rated wage, but the endorsed contract also preserves at least one day off that cannot be exchanged for money. Four worked rest days add RM346.16 to the RM1,500 basic salary, producing RM1,846.16, commonly rounded to about RM1,850.

Malaysia employer information centre

Domestic helper requirements by country

Q: Is domestic helper salary the same for every country?

No. Final salary follows applicable source-country and contract requirements and varies with the candidate’s experience and actual role.

Compare household-income requirements, indicative monthly salaries, personal bonds, rest-day expectations and key placement conditions for hiring a foreign domestic helper in Malaysia.

Reviewed 12 August 2026Malaysia-wide guideRules can change

Important:

This is a planning guide, not an approval guarantee or legal advice. Final eligibility, salary and contract terms depend on the current Malaysian requirements, source-country rules, candidate profile and whether the placement is in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Sarawak. WorkWave will reconfirm the applicable terms before you commit.

Quick comparison

What should an employer budget and prepare?

The income and personal-bond figures below reflect the Malaysian Immigration Department’s published requirements. Salary bands are WorkWave planning estimates—not statutory minimums—and vary with experience, care duties, language, live-in arrangements and current source-country contract rules.

Source country	Employer net income	Personal bond	Indicative salary planning band	Rest-day planning
IndonesiaHousekeeper/cook, childcare or elderly care category	RM7,000 / monthPublished household threshold	RM250	RM1,500 basicRM86.54 for each voluntarily worked rest day; four such days total RM1,846.16 (about RM1,850)	1 rest day each weekWork on that day requires agreement and 1.5× pro-rated compensation; the endorsed contract also preserves at least one day off that cannot be replaced with cash
PhilippinesEnglish communication is often a matching priority	RM5,000 / month	RM750	Approx. RM2,100–RM3,000+DMW has a progressive USD500 standard; confirm current Malaysia application and MYR contract amount	One full day weekly baselineConfirm DMW/MWO-verified contract
Sri LankaAvailability and experience vary by intake	RM5,000 / month	RM750	RM1,500–RM2,500+Candidate- and role-dependent planning range	One full day weekly baselineRecord the arrangement in the contract
IndiaEligibility and source-region conditions may apply	RM5,000 / month	RM750	RM1,500–RM2,500+Candidate- and role-dependent planning range	One full day weekly baselineRecord the arrangement in the contract
CambodiaCurrent candidate availability should be checked	RM3,000 / month	RM250	RM1,500–RM2,300+Candidate- and role-dependent planning range	One full day weekly baselineRecord the arrangement in the contract
NepalConfirm the active domestic-helper intake route	RM5,000 / month	RM750	RM1,500–RM2,500+Candidate- and role-dependent planning range	One full day weekly baselineRecord the arrangement in the contract

“Salary planning band” is an indicative gross monthly starting point for budgeting. It is not a quotation, fixed market rate or legal minimum. Higher salaries may be appropriate for infant care, elderly support, specialised experience, strong language ability, cooking, travel or broader responsibilities.

Rules that apply before nationality

Core Malaysian requirements

Eligible purpose

Published federal criteria generally refer to a married employer with a child under 15 or a sick or elderly parent. Supporting documents may be required.

Candidate eligibility

The helper must generally be female, aged 21–45, medically fit, residing in the source country and entering with an approved Visa With Reference.

Prior approval

Employers of non-citizens, including foreign domestic employees, must obtain the relevant prior approval under section 60K before hiring.

Written contract

Salary, duties, accommodation, rest days, leave, communication, notice and repatriation responsibilities should be clearly documented.

Arrival and medical

After arrival, the helper must complete the required FOMEMA examination and pass formalities within the stated period.

Responsible employment

Provide suitable accommodation, nutritious food, proper rest, timely salary and respectful treatment. An employer must not retain the helper’s passport.

Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah & Sarawak

Location changes the process.

Malaysia-wide SEO should not flatten genuine state differences. Sabah and Sarawak control important immigration and labour steps locally.

Peninsular Malaysia

Use the federal Immigration and JTKSM process, including the applicable employer-income threshold, VDR, medical and PL(KS) requirements.

Sabah

Applications are subject to Sabah’s state jurisdiction and licensing procedures. WorkWave should confirm the route with the Sabah Labour and Immigration authorities before quoting.

Sarawak

A licence to employ a non-resident employee is required. Sarawak also publishes state eligibility guidance and now expressly provides a weekly rest day for domestic workers under its amended labour framework.

Salary & rest days

What the numbers do—and do not—mean.

Indonesia: how the “RM1,850” figure is calculated

The endorsed standard contract sets a basic salary of at least RM1,500 and one rest day each week. If the helper agrees to work on a scheduled rest day, the contract rate is 1.5× the pro-rated daily wage.

Monthly basicRM1,500.00

Worked rest-day rateRM86.54 / day

4 worked rest days+ RM346.16

Example totalRM1,846.16 ≈ RM1,850

This is not a blanket “no-holiday” package. The helper must agree to work on each rest day. A month containing five worked rest days would total RM1,932.70, not RM1,850. The endorsed contract also requires at least one actual day off that cannot be replaced with cash, plus at least 10 hours of daily rest, including seven uninterrupted hours.

Malaysia’s RM1,700 minimum wage

The Minimum Wages Order 2024 excludes domestic employees. That means a domestic helper’s enforceable salary must be checked against her source-country rules and written employment contract. Indonesia separately publishes RM1,500 as the minimum for Indonesian domestic helpers under the bilateral terms.

Why salary varies

Nationality is not a measure of capability. Salary changes with verified experience, communication, infant or elderly care, specialist training, cooking, travel, schedule and role scope. A clear job brief produces a fairer quotation.

How to handle an Indonesian weekly rest day

An Indonesian domestic helper is entitled to one rest day each week. She may agree to work on a scheduled rest day for 1.5× the pro-rated daily wage, but an employer should not present permanent seven-day work with no holidays as the standard arrangement. The day and any compensation must be recorded in the endorsed contract.

Second or third helper

Federal published thresholds state more than RM10,000 monthly income for a second helper and more than RM15,000 for a third, with strong reasons and any required special approval.

Employer document checklist

Prepare these before the application starts.

✓Identity cards for employer and spouse

✓Marriage certificate for a first application

✓Recent payslips and EPF statement, or tax evidence

✓Child’s birth certificate or relevant parent medical evidence

✓Completed application, visa and personal-bond documents

✓Signed and stamped employment agreement

✓Candidate passport and approved source-country medical report

✓Any embassy endorsement or source-country approval

Frequently asked questions

Common questions from Malaysian employers

Is domestic helper salary the same for every country?

No. The final salary follows the applicable source-country and contract requirements, then varies with the candidate’s experience and actual role. The bands above are for planning only.

Does this guide apply in Sabah and Sarawak?

It is a Malaysia-wide starting point, but Sabah and Sarawak have state-controlled immigration and labour procedures. The state route must be checked before application.

Can a helper work at another home or in my business?

No. A foreign domestic helper is approved for the named employer and household duties under the pass and contract. She must not be deployed as general labour or to another household without approval.

Can an Indonesian helper work seven days a week?

She has a contractual rest day each week. She may voluntarily agree to work on a scheduled rest day for 1.5× pro-rated compensation, but the endorsed contract also preserves at least one day off that cannot be exchanged for money. Permanent work without any actual day off should not be treated as a compliant standard package.

Official sources used

This page was reviewed on 12 August 2026 using government information. Always re-check current requirements before payment or application.

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