Employers who paid will get Indonesian maids
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
