MAID ISSUE: IMPROVE CONTRACT TO SATISFY BOTH SIDES, SAYS AMBASSADOR

PUTRAJAYA, June 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs to improve the contract
between the employer and domestic maid that will give satisfaction to both
sides, Malaysian ambasasador to Indonesia, Zainal Abidin Zain said.

In welcoming the government's suggestion that maids should be given a day
off in a week, he said there must be changes in the employment area so as to
give rights to both the maid and employer.

"Although there have been a number of abused maid cases, let's not allow
this issue affect the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

"The Malaysian government does not condone such abuse, so let us try to work
out a system to the satisfaction of both countries," he told Bernama at the 7th
Heads of Mission Conference, here, Tuesday.

The six-day conference held at the Putrajaya International Convention
Centre was opened by Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday.

Human Resource Minister Dr S. Subramaniam had said that the off day
provision would be incorporated into the contract of employment to be signed by
the employer, maid and the agency responsible for bringing the maid into the
country.

On the Indonesian government's plan to temporarily stop sending domestic
helpers to Malaysia after an Indonesian maid was recently tortured and injured,
he said they were still considering the matter and would have more discussions
before making a decision.

The latest maid abuse case was that had befallen Siti Hajar Sadli from
Limbangan, Garut, West Java.

Zainal said one of the solutions to the issue could be that Chinese
households should employ maids from China or the Philippines to avoid problems
involving food and religious practices.

He said other measures to curb maid abuse could be monitoring every three
months, whereby the agencies should be given some role to play as they had
brought the maids in.

"To renew the work permit, the employer and maid should come and see the
Immigration officer as part of an effective monitoring system to check the
problem," he said.

On the anti-Malaysia campaign in Indonesia following the Manohara, Ambalat
and maid abuse issues, Zainal said there was no real danger for Malaysians to
visit Indonesia.
-- BERNAMA