CALL ON GOVT TO SPEED UP M`SIA-INDONESIA NEGOTIATIONS ON MAIDS

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid
Agencies (Papa) Thursday called on the Home and Human Resources ministries to
take follow-up action to speed up the negotiations between Malaysia and
Indonesia on maids.

Its president, Raja Zulkepley Dahalan, said this was because two
meetings between the two countries to discuss the memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on maids, which were supposed to be held last month, did not materialise.

"Any delay or failure to hold the meeting between the two parties will have
a negative impact, not only to the local recruitment agencies, but also the maid
agencies in Indonesia.

"Papa is confident the the temporary freeze on the export of maids to
Malaysia, if prolonged, will not benefit any of the parties concerned in the two
countries. Instead, other parties may take advantage of the situation," he said
in a statement here.

He said there was also a possibility that the maids would be brought into
the country illegally by irresponsible parties.


Raja Zulkepley said the move by the Indonesian government to resume the
export of maids to Malaysia in the near future should be consideredpending the
review of the MoU.

He said both countries had initially agreed on several issues, including the
condition for the maids to be given a weekly day off and insurance coverage.

If the cost structure and the minimum salary for the maids were to hamper
the bilateral discussion, the matter should be resolved based on the interests
of all he relevant parties.

"We are convinced that there are many more Indonesian maids who are still
interested in working here," he added.

-- BERNAMA