Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
BY CHRISTINE CHEAH
PETALING JAYA: Employers of Filipino maids are reminded to pay the minimum salary of US$400 as stated in the contract signed.
In a statement, the Philippines embassy said employers would now have to pay Filipino maids RM1,440 because of the weaker Malaysian ringgit.
“This has been a known agreement for the last 10 years for Filipino maids that their salary is based on US dollars,” said Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) president Jeffrey Foo.
He said many maids had come forward to complain that their employers had not been paying their salary according to the contract, which resulted in the embassy releasing the statement as a reminder to employers.
Foo said business had definitely dropped as employers found it more expensive to hire Filipino maids.
A maid agency director known as Pushpa said it was difficult for her to explain the price fluctuation to customers.
“Customers find it a hefty price to pay for a maid,” said Pushpa.
She hoped the Government would intervene and stipulate that Filipino maids be paid in Malaysian ringgit instead of US dollars.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Maid Employers Association president (Mama) president Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein said other governments aside from the Philippines had called for salary increments for maids.
“President Jokowi of Indonesia has even urged for the word maid to be changed because it is degrading,” said Engku Ahmad Fauzi.
However, he said implementation of salary increments would take time.
Source: THE STAR ONLINE
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