BETTER PROTECTION FOR FOREIGN MAIDS IN MALAYSIA, ILO TOLD

PUTRAJAYA, June 15 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur has assured the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) that measures have been taken to improve the benefits
and protection of foreign household maids in Malaysia through bilateral efforts.

Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam gave the assurance at the
99th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva Tuesday.

He cited the recent signing of a Letter of Intent between Kuala Lumpur and
Jakarta to give a new dimension to the employment of domestic workers in
Malaysia.

Indonesia halted its supply of maids to Malaysia last June following some
cases of maid abuse and lack of benefits, including a minimum monthly salary and
a day off a week.

Last month, the two countries agreed on revised terms and are expected to
sign a new memorandum of understanding soon that would lead to a lifting of the
ban.

Dr Subramaniam told the ILO meeting that in the process of formulating
international labour instruments, consideration must be given to the existing
laws and regulations of member states.

"It is extremely necessary to ensure that some element of flexibility be
provided in it so as to allow a greater opportunity to ratify it at a subsequent
date," he said. The text of his speech was faxed here today.

There are 224,544 domestic workers in Malaysia, mainly from Indonesia, the
Philippines and Cambodia.

The minister praised the ILO for including the decent work agenda for
domestic workers in this year's conference and for its efforts to start an
initiative focusing on HIV/AIDS, which he said would give new impetus to
implement prevention programmes and measures at national and workplace levels.

He said that in Malaysia, there were an estimated 87,710 people living with
HIV and 13,394 deaths due to AIDS were recorded between 1986 and 2009.

Based on these figures, it could not be denied that almost 90 per cent of
those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are in the working class category, he said.

He also said that Malaysia responded positively to the ILO's Global Jobs
Pact created after the global economic meltdown last year, through various
economic and labour initiatives.

The Global Jobs Pact was designed to guide member countries on their
policies towards stimulating economic recovery, generating jobs and providing
protection to working people and their families.

Dr Subramaniam said the Malaysian government implemented two economic
stimulus packages in 2008 and 2009 totalling RM67 billion.

"For labour, through the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, a total of
RM650 million (US$106.96 million) was allocated to assist Malaysian workers who
were affected by the financial meltdown," he added.
-- BERNAMA