MALAYSIA, INDONESIA TO RESOLVE MAID SUPPLY NEXT MONTH

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia will resolve the
maid supply issue next month, said Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said several issues raised by both sides during two previous meetings in
Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur would be trashed out at the next meeting.

"I hope we can resolve the issues at the next meeting next month and
Indonesian maids will be allowed to resume work in Malaysia," he told reporters
after opening the 16th Confederation of Asean Journalists (CAJ) general assembly
here Thursday.

The Indonesian government had cut the supply of maids to Malaysia on June 25
following reports of maid abuse cases by employers.

In a meeting on Sept 2, Malaysia and Indonesia had agreed that the maids
should be given one day off a week and to keep their passports.

On calls that Malaysia reduce dependency on foreign labour, Subramaniam
said, the government shared the views as it ensured foreign workers be confined
to certain sectors while locals be given preference.

"We are moving towards high-income economy. As our manpower is about 12
million, we need to optimise it by upgrading the skills of local workforce," he
said.

Subramaniam said during the industrialisation era of the 70s, most
industries banked on semi-skilled workers.

"But this had to be discontinued, firstly, due to shortage of labour, and
secondly, our education level had risen and job seekers no longer want to take
up low-skilled jobs.

"We are facing the challenges in transforming our industrialisation towards
high-skilled labour and simultaneously the workers will earn high income," he
said.
-- BERNAMA