ID :
116537
Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/116537
The shortlink copeid
LOWER MAID RATES PROPOSED
MEDAN, April 13 (Bernama) -- A lower recruitment cost for maids are among
proposals suggested for discussion between Malaysia and Indonesia to update
sending of informal Indonesian labour to Malaysia.
The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta has worked on a lower cost and was now
getting feedback of cost from Medan, Pekan Baru and Pontianak.
Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia, Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin Syed
Hassan, said the matter will be among proposals that will brought to the annual
consultation between Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak and
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Kuala Lumpur will be the host for the discussions this time around.
Syed Mushe Afdzaruddin is here for a three-day working visit after being
appointed ambassador three and a half months ago.
On Feb 25, the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta had taken the initiative to
arrange a discussion between Malaysian and Indonesian foreign workers agencies
to come to an agreement between both sides to reduce recruitment costs of
Indonesian maids, which was deemed to be high.
Study on the cost structure between foreign worker agencies of both
countries revealed that the cost was RM6,100 (US$1=RM3.2) and was considered to
be high.
In actual situations, there are Malaysian employers who are forced to pay up
to RM8,000 to get Indonesian maids.
Besides the fixed amount set by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments
according to rules and regulations, other costs like for training and
sponsorship costs lead a high recruitment cost.
Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin said the high cost not only burdened employers who
had to pay up front but also led to the maids having to bear their monthly wages
being deducted.
Malaysian employers are also not easy with this situation as it sometimes
led to maids fleeing when they felt were being fleeced and forced to work for a
period without pay.
The Malaysian ambassador said to protect the interests of employers, a
guarantee in the form of a contract may be needed to also ensure that employers
did not lose out if their maids ran off after the maids were allowed to hold
their passports.
Indonesia had temporarily suspended sending its citizens as maids to
Malaysia and both governments were in discussion to ink a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to update the management of supply.
Malaysia hopes that the MoU will benefit both sides and ensure the rights
and protection of both maids and their employers.
Indonesian maids had very much contributed to the Malaysian economy as this
allowed many women to go out and work and at the same time it aided the
Indonesian economy when the maids sent money home.
This morning Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin and his delegation visited North
Sumatra governor, Samsul Aripin, at his official residence to discuss
bilateral ties in trade and investment.
-- BERNAMA
proposals suggested for discussion between Malaysia and Indonesia to update
sending of informal Indonesian labour to Malaysia.
The Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta has worked on a lower cost and was now
getting feedback of cost from Medan, Pekan Baru and Pontianak.
Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia, Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin Syed
Hassan, said the matter will be among proposals that will brought to the annual
consultation between Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak and
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Kuala Lumpur will be the host for the discussions this time around.
Syed Mushe Afdzaruddin is here for a three-day working visit after being
appointed ambassador three and a half months ago.
On Feb 25, the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta had taken the initiative to
arrange a discussion between Malaysian and Indonesian foreign workers agencies
to come to an agreement between both sides to reduce recruitment costs of
Indonesian maids, which was deemed to be high.
Study on the cost structure between foreign worker agencies of both
countries revealed that the cost was RM6,100 (US$1=RM3.2) and was considered to
be high.
In actual situations, there are Malaysian employers who are forced to pay up
to RM8,000 to get Indonesian maids.
Besides the fixed amount set by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments
according to rules and regulations, other costs like for training and
sponsorship costs lead a high recruitment cost.
Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin said the high cost not only burdened employers who
had to pay up front but also led to the maids having to bear their monthly wages
being deducted.
Malaysian employers are also not easy with this situation as it sometimes
led to maids fleeing when they felt were being fleeced and forced to work for a
period without pay.
The Malaysian ambassador said to protect the interests of employers, a
guarantee in the form of a contract may be needed to also ensure that employers
did not lose out if their maids ran off after the maids were allowed to hold
their passports.
Indonesia had temporarily suspended sending its citizens as maids to
Malaysia and both governments were in discussion to ink a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to update the management of supply.
Malaysia hopes that the MoU will benefit both sides and ensure the rights
and protection of both maids and their employers.
Indonesian maids had very much contributed to the Malaysian economy as this
allowed many women to go out and work and at the same time it aided the
Indonesian economy when the maids sent money home.
This morning Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin and his delegation visited North
Sumatra governor, Samsul Aripin, at his official residence to discuss
bilateral ties in trade and investment.
-- BERNAMA
