DanuGemilang

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia will resume sending its citizens to work as maids in Malaysia next month.

Indonesian Manpower and Trans-migration Minister Erman Suparno said the resumption would, however, be subject to the settlement of specific issues.

During his meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam yesterday, he raised the following issues:

> Allowing maids to hold their passports instead of the employers doing so;

> Giving maids a weekly day off;

> Requiring employers to bank in monthly pay;

> Giving adequate protection to maids from abusive employers; and

> Curbing maids from being brought into Malaysia illegally.

He said discussions would start on July 15.

“We hope to reach a consensus within two weeks. We hope that the discussions will solve the problem so we can resume sending maids,” he told a press conference at the Indonesian embassy.

Erman said the Indonesians would also discuss minimum wages during the discussions.

“Being trained or untrained is irrelevant. The question is what are the qualifications required by employers for a domestic servant?

“The wages should be standard. There should not be discrimination. All nationalities should earn the same.”

Erman said the two countries would also review the memorandum of understanding on labour, which was signed in May 2006.

“We need to review it because both countries have since passed laws which are not consistent with it.

“On the Indonesian side we have a new human trafficking law which came into force in 2007,” he said.

On his meeting, Erman said he was now “happy and confident”, adding that Dr Subramaniam was responsive to suggestions to improve the situation.

Source : The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Indonesia has given the assurance that maid agencies which have already received payments from Malaysian employers will be allowed to bring in maids to work with the employers concerned.

The assurance was given by Indonesian labour and transmigration minister Dr Erman Suparno during a meeting with Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, at the Human Resources Ministry, here on Monday.

In a statement, Dr Subramaniam said both sides had also agreed to set up a coordinating body to handle all administrative issues pertaining to the employment of Indonesian maids.

“We also agreed that the maids will be given a day off a week but it will be up to the employers and the maids to determine the day. If the off day is not given, the employers should compensate the maids,” he said.

The provision for the off day would be incorporated in the amendment to the Employment Act 1955 which would be tabled in parliament in October, Dr Subramaniam said.

Two weeks ago Jakarta announced that it would no longer send maids to Malaysia following reports of abuse by Malaysian employers.

On maids running away from their employers, Dr Subramaniam said he had requested the Indonesian authorities to ensure that there was no repeat of such incidents.

“Last year alone, about 8,000 Indonesian maids ran away from their employers,” he said.

To protect the interest of employers, he said, Malaysia requested that the insurance coverage for Indonesian maids be expanded to cover incidents of maids running away from their employers.

Dr Subramaniam also conveyed a request that the Indonesian government carry out a review of the fee structure which he said was too high and confusing.

“We suggested that the rate be standardised and Indonesia has agreed to look into it,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam said he had also informed his Indonesian counterpart that Malaysia was taking steps to safeguard the welfare of Indonesian maids, including requiring employers to open bank accounts for their maids so that the ministry could monitor the payments of salary.

“Each maid is also covered under the Workmen’s Compensation Act and a standard contract signed by employers and workers, stipulating the terms of employment and so on,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam described the meeting as cordial and open and that “we agreed to meet more often.”

Meanwhile, Erman, when met by reporters after the meeting, said the two countries would review the memorandum of understanding on labour which was signed in May, 2006.

“We need to review it because both countries had since passed several legislations which are not in line with it. On the Indonesian side we have a new human trafficking law which came into force in 2007,” he said. – Bernama

Utusan Malaysia melapurkan hari ini Menteri Sumber Manusia sebagai berkata;

“Kita turut menerima aduan daripada majikan mengenai masalah amah ini dan ingin saya tegaskan bahawa kerajaan mempunyai tanggungjawab kepada semua pihak terlibat iaitu pembantu rumah, majikan dan juga agensi perniagaan ini.

“Ini kerana mereka juga telah melabur berjuta-juta ringgit dan kadangkala turut menghadapi kerugian ke atas keputusan yang dibuat secara tergesa-gesa, perkara ini akan dibincangkan,” katanya.

Pada masa sama, katanya, beliau berharap perbincangan antara kedua-dua negara akan dibuat dalam satu suasana terbuka demi kepuasan pihak yang terbabit.

Sebagai contoh kalau mahu diberi kebenaran kepada pembantu rumah untuk memegang pasport sendiri maka akan lebih banyak masalah akan kita hadapi nanti. Lagi pun pihak imigresen telah mengeluarkan i-Kad untuk pekerja asing. Ini boleh menggantikan pasport untuk mereka sebagai tanda pengenalan diri. Tahun lepas sahaja hampir 13000 pembantu rumah telah melarikan diri dari kontrak dan majikan. Bayangkan berapakah kerugian yang terpaksa ditanggung oleh majikan dan agensi yang membawa mereka masuk ke Malaysia.