STANDARD CONTRACT FOR MAIDS BY YEAR END

PUTRAJAYA, July 9 (Bernama) -- The government plans to implement a
comprehensive standard contract for maids by year-end, Manpower Department
Director-General Ismail Abdul Rahim said Thursday.

The contract would cover maids from all source countries like Indonesia,
Philippines, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

At present only Filipino maids have proper contracts.

Ismail told Bernama that the department had completed a draft proposal and
was fine-tuning various clauses to provide adequate protection for both maids
and employers.

The contract would stipulate the terms and conditions that both parties
should comply with and would cover the maids' day-to-day work as well as look
after their wellbeing while giving adequate protection to employers.

The contract could be implemented by way of regulations by Human Resources
Minister and there was no need for parliamentary approval, he said, adding that
he welcomed input from the Bar Council on the contract.

On Wednesday the Bar Council proposed that the contract specify details of
duties, place of work, working hours, wages, leave, accommodation, meals, terms
of employment, insurance, compensation and medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Trades Union (MTUC), in welcoming the move said the
most important aspect of the contract should be to "recognise the maids as
fellow human beings and classify them as workers."

"At present our laws do not have any legal recognition for maids," its
president, Syed Shahir Syed Mahmoud, said.

He said Malaysia needed to seriously "improve" its standard to protect
the maids as this had a great bearing on its international reputation.

"The few cases of maid abuse have given our nation a negative image abroad
and we should avoid this at all costs if we want to be considered as leaders
among the developing world," he added.
-- BERNAMA