Food allowance |
In addition to salary some employers provide a food allowance, or will provide
basic food items such as rice, sugar, tea, coffee and oil. However,
many choose to simply work this into the salary, so that the staff is
responsible for their own food purchases. This method seems to work
with fewer headaches and misunderstandings. |
Transportation |
Transportation expenses for live out staff may be given in addition
to the salary. The average given depends on how many buses the servant
has to take to and from your home. |
Medical |
Reimbursements for doctors or medicine are strictly up to you. It
has been the general practice amongst most expatriate employers to reimburse
some medical expenses for the staff member but not necessarily for his/her
family members. |
Trial period |
If you choose to do so, let
the potential employee know that he or she would initially work for
a trial period of time, normally two to three months, after which both
parties may decide if the arrangement is working out. A salary lower
by at least Rp 50.000 might be paid during the triaal period. |
Pay periods |
Staff are usually paid every two weeks. But once a month is accepted
as well. Make sure arrangements are agreed upon and understood by both
parties. |
Overtime |
If an employee works past normal
hours, for example during a dinner party, paying overtime wages would
be customary. This is also true for the Indonesian official public holidays.
If a servant chooses to work during a public holiday, he or she should
be compensated for this. |
Vacation |
Household staff are entitled to a paid
vacation period each year. This vacation usually falls over the Lebaran holiday period (see below). The timing and scheduling of this and any
other vacation period that you choose to offer also depends upon your
own personal schedule and needs, so this should be discussed and mutually
agreed upon as well. This is especially important if Lebaran is just
a few months away, even though they haven't been working for you for
a year, they will still expect to take vacation over the holidays. The amount that is paid may be pro-rated from the total time taken. |
Living arrangements |
Decide which staff, if any, will live in or out. If live in, what
kind of arrangements will you have for them? Will they share a room or
have a private room? |
Health checks |
Health checkups are the responsibility of the employer. It is recommended
they be provided through reliable doctors and laboratories and the prospective
staff member be checked for for hepatitis, tuberculosis and typhoid, or
other communicable diseases prior to employment, especially if they will
be handling food. |
Uniforms |
It is standard practice to provide
either a uniform or a work clothing allowance for employees, with perhaps
the exception of night guards. Uniforms are available at Kem Chicks or Hero's. They are durable
and come in a variety of colors and styles. It is recommended that uniforms
be provided only after the trial period. |
Loans |
Loaning money to staff is NOT recommended. Should you decide to
do so it is advised that you loan money:
- only after staff has worked satisfactorily for you for at least 6 months.
- that no more than 1 month's base salary be loaned at a time.
- that an agreed payback schedule is worked out in writing.
- that any previous loans have been repaid in full.
|
Lebaran/THR Bonus |
It is standard practice to give a one month's salary bonus to household
staff regardless of religion after one year's employment. This practice
is required by Indonesian law, and is referred to as THR (tunjuangan
hari raya). If your staff has been working for less than 9 months
the bonus is usually pro-rated. This bonus is given to staff, at the latest,
2 weeks before Lebaran/Idul Fitri to be used for expenses relating to the holiday. The recommended time off for Idul Fitri is from 2 days
to 2 weeks, depending on the distance needed to travel.
Lebaran is the celebration at
the end of the holy month of Ramadhan for those of the Moslem faith.
This is a very special time for Indonesians where it is the custom to
give gifts of money and clothing. Although it is called a bonus
it is not only customary but, by law, all employees are entitled by
law to receive the equivalent of a full month's salary as a yearly bonus
at this time. Many domestic helpers choose this time to return to their
villages to celebrate the holiday with family. The bonus is very important,
as most Indonesians do not manage a savings account and use the bonus
to cover holiday shopping and tickets home. In the case of employing
a Christian servant, you would compensate at the time of the Christmas holidays
in the same manner. |
Household utensils |
It is recommended that the employer supply the entire staff with
their own eating, drinking and cooking utensils, as well as linens. This
helps ensure the health and well being of the entire household. |
Incidentals |
Some expatriate employers choose to provide toiletries or used clothing
for their household staff. |
Starting Date |
If all goes well, everyone should
agree upon the starting date. |
Probation period |
If you choose to do
so, let the potential employee know that
he or she would initially work for a trial
period of time, normally two to three
months, after which both parties may decide if the arrangement is working out. |
Severance Pay |
It is standard practice to provide
the equivalent of one month's salary for each full year of service to
an employee when you leave the country and no longer require his or
her services or in the event of termination. |
