ID :
69337
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 08:56
Auther :

EMPLOYERS WHO ALREADY PAID FEES GET TO EMPLOY INDONESIAN MAIDS



PUTRAJAYA, July 6 (Bernama) -- 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 Malaysia Human Resources Minister Dr
S.Subramaniam, at the Human Resources Ministry, here 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 would be 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 on the fee structure which he said were 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 parallel to it. On the Indonesian side we have a new
human trafficking law which came into force in 2007," he said.

He said the review would be discussed at the Malaysia-Indonesia joint
committee meeting on July 15.

Erman said the meeting Monday also centred on the commitment of both
countries to put in place measures to protect the interest of Indonesian workers
in Malaysia.

"They must be treated rightly... their rights as workers should be
protected. They need to be given a day off every week while the health and
security provision of these workers must also be adequate," he said.

Indonesia, he said, was very concerned about the abuse of Indonesian maids
in the hands of their Malaysian employers.

He also said that the Indonesian government also wanted to stem the influx
of illegal Indonesian labour into Malaysia and ensure legal workers were
employed by legitimate Malaysian firms.

"We have also proposed that a joint committee be specifically set-up to see
to the protection and treatment of Indonesia workers here. This committee would
have representatives of both sides including the police of the two countries,"
Erman said.

He said the joint committee meeting would thrash out all the issues and
"hopefully a new system would put an end to all the problems we currently have."
-- BERNAMA


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