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 YISWAREE PALANSAMY | news@nst.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: THE Human Resources Ministry will consider allowing the Malaysian Maid Employers Association (Mama) to bring in Indonesian maids. However, he said the association must first reveal its plan to do so at a rate lower than those that had been bandied about.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said Mama’s demand to be brought into the picture in serving the interest of Malaysian employers, as carried in the New Straits Times yesterday, would be studied and adopted if it was feasible enough in accommodating the needs and expectations of all parties.
“We are open to suggestions. There is no such thing as Papa (Malaysian Association of Foreign Maids Agency) dominating or monopolising this sector, neither is the ministry subservient to Papa.
“The thing is, only Papa has sent a clear submission on the rates to hire maids from Indonesia and its pricing mechanism,” he said, adding that while some quarters had been claiming to be able to mitigate this issue, they had not discussed it with the ministry.
“Proposals on this must be official, complete with the mechanisms that they want to put in place, their network to ensure adequate supply as well as their plan to make it work.”
Dr Subramaniam yesterday also extended an invitation to others with the capability to serve the sector well and end the long-standing impasse over the workers’ arrival.
Dr Subramaniam said the ministry would not lock-in the RM8,500 (including the RM1,800 maid upfront loan), which Papa announced recently as the sum employers needed to pay for an Indonesian maid.
The ministry, he assured, was open to changes and would make their consideration on other viable solutions to the escalating maid crisis.
“We have not decided on the rate Papa proposed. It is still open for discussions,” he said.
The minister was also in agreement with Mama on its suggestion to rope in the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to mitigate the maid issue, saying he was keen on a joint-collaboration with the ministry.
“The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry can help out in matters pertaining to the welfare of the maids, but the recruitment mechanisms and the human resources aspect should lie with the Human Resources Ministry,” he said at the launch of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda celebrations here yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam was responding to Mama’s slew of suggestions to both his ministry and the Indonesian government, which the association was confident of providing a win-win solution to the maid issue.
Mama president Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein said it would provide insurance covering both the maid and her employer in the event of an abuse or the maid absconding, as well as medical expenses.
Engku Ahmad Fauzi said Mama would also observe the maids and their employers by working with the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association to ensure the maid’s welfare through the latter’s monitoring group.
Source: New Straits Times
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