The gothic horrors of foreign maid suffering in Malaysia
By : Azmi Anshar
DEWAN RAKYAT, June 29, 2009:
IF ever the choice was the ideal one to make, women in this world would vote that working as a maid is a hell of a Hobson’s choice, the pits when it comes to “legal” options. But when reality sets in, coupled by the manic ruthlessness of class warfare, women from underdeveloped, Third World nations have as much a choice as a penitentiary inmate on the kinds of jobs that bring in hard-earned money to buy food, shelter and clothing for the family. Being a maid is the easiest anywhere where the country is economically developed but the toughest to stay put and the hardest to predict a future.
Perhaps with the exception of English butlers and housekeepers, maids all over the world possess similar qualifications - physically determined, academically challenged and very vulnerable to legal conundrums and employers’ whims and fancies. Because their designated job title is “maid”, their status is looked down the same way most people look at garbage collectors and road sweepers - with little respect for their dignity as human beings and littler empathy for the hard work they put in day in and day out.
English butlers are so well trained and well regarded that there are those who earn millions a year, such is the respect and honour accorded to their status. You don’t see butlers wearing uniforms like Jeeves these days except for special formal functions but they most likely will don business suits, Gucci or Armani preferably, if he were to run errands for the master instead of cleaning the toilets.
However, the lack of homage to foreign maids is reflected in the way Malaysians pay them - as little as RM300 a month and no more than RM700 for those who have registered the experience and seniority. But the cash bears no resemblance to the toil they put in. Household employers argue that the cash is tax free and clean, on top of the room and board, food and clothes they also provide. How civic-mindedly conscientious of these employers but accepting their argument without the benefit of compassion and care for their servants is no different from the employers who exploit workers in sweat shops.
One recent example was the employers’ howls of protest after the Government proposed that maids get a day off a week but yet these same people would file lawsuits against their companies and lodge reports with their respective trade unions if they don’t get their obligatory two-days off plus the public holidays. They take their days off for granted but ironically, they simply are unable to pass down the same benefit to their maids. This benign form of hypocrisy is so much taken for granted.
Oh yes, they provide you a series of horror stories of maids who abandon and abuse helpless children at their convenience and become chief suspects in inside jobs of burglary and robbery. Admittedly, these are real examples and they must be punished the same way a parent who smashes their child with a bottle or whip them with a belt is charged with abuse. Then there’s the inane complaint - maids meet men and forge unconscionable relationships, getting pregnant because they use their day offs to frolic with their boyfriends.
It proves the point that maids are not only treated with disdain and their work unappreciated, but they are also not permitted to behave like human beings while their bosses can indulge in affairs. It’s not the same thing. Malaysians idea of the ideal maid is a stone-cold workaholic with icy veins and a hydrogen battery pack and indulged with a Stepford wife-like, slavish disposition to do anybody’s bidding with no whinging or drama queen antics.
The typical Malaysian household have maids in tow when they eat in a fancy restaurant. The maids are easily recognisable - they are the ones who sit away from the main table, taking care of attention-deficit junior and not only offered the fine food but sometimes no food at all. They must wait until they get home and eat the two-minute noodle but not the chocolates or the ice cream. They cannot retire for the night until junior is tucked in or the mistress of the house is done with imposing endless instructions to clean that toilet bowl or sweep again the forever dusty porch.
To be fair, the one day off demand for maids may be off putting for most households, so let’s focus on something a little bit easier - what about eight-hour work days just like everybody else in this country. But maids are like one of the family, so they should be taken advantage of and put to work ceaselessly. Oh yeah? Then why not pamper the maids like junior or the little princess. Or try forcing junior to clean his own clothes and make up his own bed or princess to wash the dishes if the lame one-of-the-family argument is dished out. Foreign maids, whether Malaysian would like to admit it or not, are overworked and underpaid.
Whenever an Indonesian maid is abused (must it always be an Indonesian maid all the time?), of course the Indonesian Government overreacts, especially during an election year, the latest official edict is to stop sending more maids to Malaysia. The Indonesians forget that their maids are not the only game in town. China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and a host of eager women are itching to get a piece of the action. But overreact or not, no foreign maid deserves a bashing in the head or a horrendous scalding. These demented employers should be publicly whipped, and not just jailed or fined.
So praise be the Human Resource Deputy Minister, Datuk Maznah Mazlan, who revealed today in the House that the 251,355 foreign maids would be given benefits in an amendment to the Employment Act 1955. This means minimum wage, Employees Providence Fund (EPF) contributions, social security coverage and cost of living allowance. Please top that with the eight-hour day and weekly day off too.
Besides injecting professionalism into the job, the goal has an irrelevant sub-plot - slash dependence (overdependence?) on foreign maids to encourage local maidens to take up the slack. Good luck on that! Ever remotely hear of a local girl working as a maid in Kuala Lumpur? They would either be mad or masochistic. Most local girls would regard the proposal as an insult.
Why enter into the aggravation when the work at the Petaling Jaya electronics plant is better paid, plus regular perks that foreign maids can only dream of getting - eight-hour work days, two days off a week, health/medical insurance, two-week annual paid vacation, annual bonuses and best of all, the freedom to romantically socialise and fraternise.
Malaysians’ uneven relationships with their foreign maids have generated tales of sweetness…and gothic horrors. We have wonderful maids just as we have the lunatics who pee on food before serving to their crass employers. We also have majority of employers so kind and compassionate that they pay their maids in excess of RM700 a month, pay their annual ‘balik kampung’ return air tickets, a day off in a week and no need to cook as long as they religiously care for junior - just as we have the two-legged beasts who think nothing of chaining up their hired hands inside a little lock-up so they cannot flee to freedom.
But this does not preclude the fundamental need to treat maids as human beings and workers no different from white-collared and blue-collared professionals. Malaysians have to strip away their twisted class dogma and start treating and paying foreign maids just as they make the same demands of their bosses, companies and corporations.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Stop eroding our national reputation over maids
JD Lovrenciear Jun 26, 09 5:08pm
The recent announcement by our Indonesian neighbors to stop sending their maids is a national disaster in terms of the reputation of Malaysia. And who do we blame for this dent on our armour of national dignity? And it is equally stupid and outrageous to counter with statements to the effect that 'If that be the case, we will get our ‘supplies’ from other countries'. Indeed, it is a shame that in this age and time we are still trapped in the gully of deciding whether an employee should be granted a mere one day off in a week. Should this not have been well granted and enforced by the government a long time ago? It makes no sense for a nation to want to join the league of the developed world - given its much publicised Wawasan 2020 - when we are dragging our conscience even in freely granting a work-free off day to workers. Presently, we are courting more disasters that will eventually drag our national image and integrity into the lowest pits of shame. Forget about the international index on transparency and accountability for the moment. Let us instead look at the abuses that we have been courting for far too long a time. How do continue to treat migrant labour involved in the plantation and construction industry? How do we continue to treat the cleaners and restaurant workers that we are bringing in by the plane-loads from neighboring countries?And we are not yet even talking about the slavery in the country and the exploits of the sex industry here. And on the home ground, too, let us admit honestly what we are embroiled with.Look at the law suits and countersuits against personalities especially those involving leading politicians.What about the scandalous suits that reek of sexual abuse? The political dark clouds that we are fanning rage across constituencies. What about some of the draconian laws that we still champion so feverishly? It is time to stop and confront in a collaborative spirit the damage that we as Malaysians are guilty of. Never mind whether you are a politician, an employer or a mere consumer of the services available as a result of the cheapened labour in the country. We are all collectively guilty for having a role in devastating the national reputation of this country. Given the extensive negative global publicity that has been raining on our beloved country, it is equally stupid to continue arguing that the reported labour abuses are isolated cases and that the vast majority of the country’s folks treat their workers with dignity. It is time we learned to stop treating the international media, the world and its citizens as fools. Unless and until we wake to realise that we are all party to the damaged national reputation and until the time when we punish those who are at fault irrespective of status and position, we are certain to be doomed to a perilous point of no-return with regards to our national image.
JD Lovrenciear Jun 26, 09 5:08pm
The recent announcement by our Indonesian neighbors to stop sending their maids is a national disaster in terms of the reputation of Malaysia. And who do we blame for this dent on our armour of national dignity? And it is equally stupid and outrageous to counter with statements to the effect that 'If that be the case, we will get our ‘supplies’ from other countries'. Indeed, it is a shame that in this age and time we are still trapped in the gully of deciding whether an employee should be granted a mere one day off in a week. Should this not have been well granted and enforced by the government a long time ago? It makes no sense for a nation to want to join the league of the developed world - given its much publicised Wawasan 2020 - when we are dragging our conscience even in freely granting a work-free off day to workers. Presently, we are courting more disasters that will eventually drag our national image and integrity into the lowest pits of shame. Forget about the international index on transparency and accountability for the moment. Let us instead look at the abuses that we have been courting for far too long a time. How do continue to treat migrant labour involved in the plantation and construction industry? How do we continue to treat the cleaners and restaurant workers that we are bringing in by the plane-loads from neighboring countries?And we are not yet even talking about the slavery in the country and the exploits of the sex industry here. And on the home ground, too, let us admit honestly what we are embroiled with.Look at the law suits and countersuits against personalities especially those involving leading politicians.What about the scandalous suits that reek of sexual abuse? The political dark clouds that we are fanning rage across constituencies. What about some of the draconian laws that we still champion so feverishly? It is time to stop and confront in a collaborative spirit the damage that we as Malaysians are guilty of. Never mind whether you are a politician, an employer or a mere consumer of the services available as a result of the cheapened labour in the country. We are all collectively guilty for having a role in devastating the national reputation of this country. Given the extensive negative global publicity that has been raining on our beloved country, it is equally stupid to continue arguing that the reported labour abuses are isolated cases and that the vast majority of the country’s folks treat their workers with dignity. It is time we learned to stop treating the international media, the world and its citizens as fools. Unless and until we wake to realise that we are all party to the damaged national reputation and until the time when we punish those who are at fault irrespective of status and position, we are certain to be doomed to a perilous point of no-return with regards to our national image.
A review badly needed
ALTHOUGH the Indonesian government’s decision last week to temporarily stop sending domestic workers to this country will cause significant discomfort to potential employers, the moratorium provides an excellent opportunity for Malaysian regulators to review their stance towards Indonesian maids.According to news reports, there are 300,000 Indonesian maids in this country. Indonesia’s Manpower and Transmigration Ministry says 3,000 Indonesians leave the country every month to work as domestic helpers in Malaysia. This underscores the number of households in this country affected by Jakarta’s decision. Leaving aside the suggestion that Malaysians are becoming far too dependent on foreign maids, three issues need to be addressed. First is the huge discrepancy in wages paid to Indonesian maids compared with that for their Filipino counterparts. According to Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) president, Raja Zulkepley Dahalan, Filipino maids in this country are paid RM1,000 compared with more than RM500 earned by Indonesian maids. What justification is there for paying a Filipino maid almost double that for an Indonesian? Is it because Filipinos can speak English and are more suitable for employment in non-Muslim households? I believe Filipino maids are also better paid because of Manila’s insistence on minimum wages and other conditions of work. Even so, does this justify paying an Indonesian about half that for a Filipino maid? If Filipino maids should enjoy a premium, I suggest this should be capped at a reasonable level – possibly 10% or 15%. Because wages for domestic workers from Indonesia and other countries like Bangladesh are so low, even hawkers can afford to hire foreigners to man their stalls. Why should hawkers be allowed to employ foreign domestic workers? Not surprisingly, this has led to a worsening quality of char kway teow, chicken rice and other hawker food.Furthermore, low wages could cause Malaysian employers to under-value their foreign domestic workers and in extreme cases, this may lead to severe abuse of foreign maids. Malaysian policymakers should consider this: why is it that almost all cases of appalling abuse involve Indonesian maids? Another point to note is the growing number of Indonesians venturing further to work as maids. In Hongkong, Indonesian maids enjoy monthly salaries of HK$3,000 (RM1,500) or more – about three times that in Malaysia. Some Indonesian maids that I have met in the territory speak impeccable Cantonese. This suggests language and other cultural differences are not a major stumbling block for determined Indonesians. Second is the Malaysian government’s proposal to make it mandatory for employers to allow foreign maids a day off. This move is long overdue. Some Malaysians have written to the press to highlight their concern that if Indonesian maids were allowed a day off, they could mix with undesirable company, form undesirable relationships, indulge in unhealthy activities, become dissatisfied with their employers and run away. Again the comparison is with Filipino maids. Although Filipino maids are given a mandatory day off every week, why hasn’t this prompted them to become dissatisfied with their employers and run away in large numbers? Some may argue because there are more than 1.2 million Indonesians legally in this country (and possibly another 800,000 here illegally), allowing Indonesian maids a day off poses additional risks compared to those from other countries.
If so, policymakers should consider sourcing of maids from other countries like China. Wanita MCA has strongly urged Putrajaya not to allow women from China to work as maids in this country because they could break up families by seducing husbands. The Wanita MCA’s suggestion is untenable. If some Malaysian Chinese women are insecure about the fidelity of their husbands, they aren’t compelled to hire maids from China. Why should these women be allowed to deny other Malaysians the opportunity to employ mainland Chinese as maids? Third is the issue of greater legal protection for foreign domestic workers. As Caram Asia, a regional network representing non-governmental organisations, has pointed out, because maids are defined as “servants” under the Employment Act, they are denied all statutory benefits except the right to sue for unpaid wages.I believe changing the legal status of domestic helpers could encourage an improvement in mindset. Instead of regarding their foreign maids as servants, employers would be encouraged to treat them as employees. Employers must be made to realise that unless working conditions are improved significantly and immediately, Malaysia will quickly become the destination of last resort, not only for Indonesians but also for Bangladeshis, Nepalis, Cambodians and all those in the region who seek to improve their economic prospects.
ALTHOUGH the Indonesian government’s decision last week to temporarily stop sending domestic workers to this country will cause significant discomfort to potential employers, the moratorium provides an excellent opportunity for Malaysian regulators to review their stance towards Indonesian maids.According to news reports, there are 300,000 Indonesian maids in this country. Indonesia’s Manpower and Transmigration Ministry says 3,000 Indonesians leave the country every month to work as domestic helpers in Malaysia. This underscores the number of households in this country affected by Jakarta’s decision. Leaving aside the suggestion that Malaysians are becoming far too dependent on foreign maids, three issues need to be addressed. First is the huge discrepancy in wages paid to Indonesian maids compared with that for their Filipino counterparts. According to Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) president, Raja Zulkepley Dahalan, Filipino maids in this country are paid RM1,000 compared with more than RM500 earned by Indonesian maids. What justification is there for paying a Filipino maid almost double that for an Indonesian? Is it because Filipinos can speak English and are more suitable for employment in non-Muslim households? I believe Filipino maids are also better paid because of Manila’s insistence on minimum wages and other conditions of work. Even so, does this justify paying an Indonesian about half that for a Filipino maid? If Filipino maids should enjoy a premium, I suggest this should be capped at a reasonable level – possibly 10% or 15%. Because wages for domestic workers from Indonesia and other countries like Bangladesh are so low, even hawkers can afford to hire foreigners to man their stalls. Why should hawkers be allowed to employ foreign domestic workers? Not surprisingly, this has led to a worsening quality of char kway teow, chicken rice and other hawker food.Furthermore, low wages could cause Malaysian employers to under-value their foreign domestic workers and in extreme cases, this may lead to severe abuse of foreign maids. Malaysian policymakers should consider this: why is it that almost all cases of appalling abuse involve Indonesian maids? Another point to note is the growing number of Indonesians venturing further to work as maids. In Hongkong, Indonesian maids enjoy monthly salaries of HK$3,000 (RM1,500) or more – about three times that in Malaysia. Some Indonesian maids that I have met in the territory speak impeccable Cantonese. This suggests language and other cultural differences are not a major stumbling block for determined Indonesians. Second is the Malaysian government’s proposal to make it mandatory for employers to allow foreign maids a day off. This move is long overdue. Some Malaysians have written to the press to highlight their concern that if Indonesian maids were allowed a day off, they could mix with undesirable company, form undesirable relationships, indulge in unhealthy activities, become dissatisfied with their employers and run away. Again the comparison is with Filipino maids. Although Filipino maids are given a mandatory day off every week, why hasn’t this prompted them to become dissatisfied with their employers and run away in large numbers? Some may argue because there are more than 1.2 million Indonesians legally in this country (and possibly another 800,000 here illegally), allowing Indonesian maids a day off poses additional risks compared to those from other countries.
If so, policymakers should consider sourcing of maids from other countries like China. Wanita MCA has strongly urged Putrajaya not to allow women from China to work as maids in this country because they could break up families by seducing husbands. The Wanita MCA’s suggestion is untenable. If some Malaysian Chinese women are insecure about the fidelity of their husbands, they aren’t compelled to hire maids from China. Why should these women be allowed to deny other Malaysians the opportunity to employ mainland Chinese as maids? Third is the issue of greater legal protection for foreign domestic workers. As Caram Asia, a regional network representing non-governmental organisations, has pointed out, because maids are defined as “servants” under the Employment Act, they are denied all statutory benefits except the right to sue for unpaid wages.I believe changing the legal status of domestic helpers could encourage an improvement in mindset. Instead of regarding their foreign maids as servants, employers would be encouraged to treat them as employees. Employers must be made to realise that unless working conditions are improved significantly and immediately, Malaysia will quickly become the destination of last resort, not only for Indonesians but also for Bangladeshis, Nepalis, Cambodians and all those in the region who seek to improve their economic prospects.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Malaysian PM urges stern action against Indonesian maid abuse
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's prime minister said Saturday his government will take stern action against anyone abusing Indonesian maids and urged employers to show greater interest in their welfare. Najib Razak was responding to an Indonesian government decision to temporarily stop Indonesians from travelling to Malaysia to take domestic work amid outrage over abuse reports. "We have to take stern action under the law against those who abuse maids," Razak told reporters. "What we have to do is to ensure that whenever there are abuses they are dealt with expeditiously and that (employers) can step up to show a more caring attitude towards the interest and welfare of their maids," he said
Amah Indonesia kembali selepas MoU
Amah Indonesia kembali selepas MoU
KUALA LUMPUR: Keputusan menarik balik pemberhentian sementara penghantaran pembantu rumah Indonesia ke Malaysia akan dibuat selepas rundingan dan pemeteraian memorandum persefahaman (MoU) baru berkaitan dengan kementerian terbabit di sini awal bulan depan. Duta Besar Indonesia ke Malaysia, Da'i Bachtiar berkata Menteri Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi, Erman Suparno, akan berunding dengan Kementerian Sumber Manusia, Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan Kementerian Kerja Raya. "Dalam perbincangan itu, Menterinya Erman Suparno akan menyampaikan permasalahan yang ditimbulkan seperti kes yang terjadi sebelum ini untuk tindakan selanjutnya," katanya selepas merasmikan Hari Keluarga Indonesia di Astaka Tasik Titiwangsa di sini, hari ini.
KUALA LUMPUR: Keputusan menarik balik pemberhentian sementara penghantaran pembantu rumah Indonesia ke Malaysia akan dibuat selepas rundingan dan pemeteraian memorandum persefahaman (MoU) baru berkaitan dengan kementerian terbabit di sini awal bulan depan. Duta Besar Indonesia ke Malaysia, Da'i Bachtiar berkata Menteri Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi, Erman Suparno, akan berunding dengan Kementerian Sumber Manusia, Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan Kementerian Kerja Raya. "Dalam perbincangan itu, Menterinya Erman Suparno akan menyampaikan permasalahan yang ditimbulkan seperti kes yang terjadi sebelum ini untuk tindakan selanjutnya," katanya selepas merasmikan Hari Keluarga Indonesia di Astaka Tasik Titiwangsa di sini, hari ini.
Maid agencies defy ban
They continue to send maids to Malaysia and say the ban puts them in a difficult position
JAKARTA - SEVERAL labour placement agencies in Indonesia have defied a government ban on sending domestic workers to Malaysia.
Up to 100 workers left for Malaysia on Friday.
Indonesia decided on Thursday to temporarily suspend sending domestic helpers to Malaysia amid outrage over the abuse of its nationals by their employers.
Mr Yunus Yamani, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Labour Exporters, told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that the ban had put agencies in a difficult position.
'We have thousands of workers ready to be sent to Malaysia, with their passports, visas and even tickets to fly,' he said.
'I demand the government give us a solution to this issue. We can't just immediately stop the process.'
He refused to name the companies that are still sending domestic workers to Malaysia, but Mr Rusdi Basalamah, vice-chairman of the Migrant Worker Service Company Association (Apjati), said on Friday: 'Today, there are 60 to 100 workers flying to Malaysia, and how can you stop them if they have signed working agreements?'
He added he has yet to receive an official letter from the ministry about the ban and therefore could not issue an order to association members to stop sending workers to Malaysia.
Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno said on Thursday that he would be issuing an official letter to placement agencies and related ministries.
However, Mr Yunus said that by Friday, he had not received any official correspondence from the government. 'It was just a statement reported by the media,' he said. 'We did not receive any letter that orders us to stop sending workers.
They continue to send maids to Malaysia and say the ban puts them in a difficult position
JAKARTA - SEVERAL labour placement agencies in Indonesia have defied a government ban on sending domestic workers to Malaysia.
Up to 100 workers left for Malaysia on Friday.
Indonesia decided on Thursday to temporarily suspend sending domestic helpers to Malaysia amid outrage over the abuse of its nationals by their employers.
Mr Yunus Yamani, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Labour Exporters, told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that the ban had put agencies in a difficult position.
'We have thousands of workers ready to be sent to Malaysia, with their passports, visas and even tickets to fly,' he said.
'I demand the government give us a solution to this issue. We can't just immediately stop the process.'
He refused to name the companies that are still sending domestic workers to Malaysia, but Mr Rusdi Basalamah, vice-chairman of the Migrant Worker Service Company Association (Apjati), said on Friday: 'Today, there are 60 to 100 workers flying to Malaysia, and how can you stop them if they have signed working agreements?'
He added he has yet to receive an official letter from the ministry about the ban and therefore could not issue an order to association members to stop sending workers to Malaysia.
Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno said on Thursday that he would be issuing an official letter to placement agencies and related ministries.
However, Mr Yunus said that by Friday, he had not received any official correspondence from the government. 'It was just a statement reported by the media,' he said. 'We did not receive any letter that orders us to stop sending workers.
No ready- housemaid solution
Papa secretary Foo Yong Hooi believes that Indonesian maids are generally well treated and that the Government should look at the national interests before agreeing to Indonesia’s terms on the issue.THE Indonesian Labour Minister’s decision on Thursday to stop sending maids to Malaysia amid outrage over reports of abuse is a cause for concern both for maid agencies and would-be employers.In a candid interview with Sunday Star, Foreign Workers’ Agency Association (Papa) secretary Foo Yong Hooi highlights the problems facing its members, some possible solutions to the shortage in supply of maids, including looking for other source countries, and the need for the Government to consider the country’s national interests before agreeing to Indonesia’s terms on the issue. He also maintains that maids are generally treated well and calls on the Indonesian government to be fair and not to make decisions based on isolated or minority cases of abuse.Q: It is understood that some government agencies are seeking feedback from various stakeholders, including Papa, over the recent proposal by Indonesia to insist on a day off for maids.A: Our views have been sought, yes. Papa has no objection to the proposal but we are urging the Government to consider very seriously the national consequences of implementing it.The majority of our 310,662 maids are from Indonesia (294,115). Unfortunately, a very high percentage of our male foreign workers is also from Indonesia and too many are illegals as well. There have been cases reported to Papa about maids bringing their boyfriends, and even having sex, in the house when their employers are not around. There have also been complaints about the maids enlisting outside help to steal things from their employer’s house.I am not saying all maids are bad, just as it is not right for the Indonesian press to paint Malaysian employers as heartless. There are bad and good maids, just as there are bad and good employers.Look at the statistics (see accompanying story). From the number of maids that we have, how many cases of abuse are there? I am sure the Indonesian Embassy has the figures. Let the statistics speak for themselves.I am also curious: Indonesian maids are working in Middle Eastern countries, Hong Kong, Taiwan and others, where there are cases of abuse as well. How come such abuses there do not get as much publicity or outcry from the Indonesian press?Also look at our laws. We charge the suspects in court. The Government has been very firm in this matter.On the other hand, Papa has also received complaints about maids stealing from their employers; beating, kicking and shaking the employers’ babies; and mistreating parents of the employers who are weak and old.Many of the employers just return the maids to the agencies or send them back to Indonesia without lodging police reports. To be fair, such cases should be highlighted as well.>As employers are Papa’s clients, why does Papa not object to the Indonesian proposal?>Papa tries to remain a neutral stakeholder. It is our responsibility to take care of the maids. Like it or not, Indonesia is our major source of supply and we are heavily dependent on them. When they impose such a ban – even if it is a temporary decision lasting a few months – thousands of households will be affected, with its national implications.For instance, one parent will have to take leave to look after the children until the maid arrives. Or there will be a flurry of applications to temporarily place the children into day care centres, which may compromise the quality of care given.And, on a personal note, Papa members will also lose millions of ringgit because we pay a huge amount of deposit to get each maid’s biodata, just to get the picture first.With the move to freeze supply, the Indonesian Government must also compel its agencies to refund our deposits. This is the employers’ money.The average fee to hire an Indonesian maid is now a staggering RM7,500 - 8,000. Many parties claim agencies are making a lot of money.And the employer gets back some RM3,000 from deducting the maid’s wages for an average of six months. The actual damage is RM4,500.Agencies here pay middlemen in Indonesia RM3,000 for each biodata. Many people claim Papa members pocket the money, or are in cahoots with their partners in Indonesia.But ask any Papa member, and they will say many of us have been cheated before. We pay money to get the biodatas, only to be told later that the maid will not be arriving. All kinds of excuses are given.Or they use the shortage excuse. The Indonesian side does not give us a replacement for problematic maids, such as those who run away or are rejected by their employers within the guaranteed period of three months.To keep our reputation, agencies replace the maids by forking money from our own pocket. Over the past 10 years, I can safely say cheating has caused Papa members to lose some RM20mil.> Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein recently said he would like to remind “those who like to blow up the issue” that it was the Indonesians who made the decision to come to Malaysia.> The minister has been restrained in his statement. Indonesia knows we have very limited sources of supply. They know they have a very big bargaining chip over us.Every few years, right about election time or when the Memorandum of Understanding between Indonesia and Malaysia on maids is up for renewal, there will be some blow-up in Indonesia over allegations that we abuse their maids.> What feedback does Papa get from the maids here?> Generally, both parties get on well with each other. Despite not giving them a day off a week, employers do take their maids out on Sundays for meals and recreation. To argue that not giving a day off automatically translates to inhumane treatment on the maid is unjustified. Despite not giving a day off, employers offer their maids things not stated in the contract. For instance, many send their maids home with an extra month’s pay, or buy jewellery for them as parting gifts.There are other options to the day off as well. Perhaps employers can lock into the contract a 13-month salary clause.Papa members, in a recent brainstorming session, also suggested that agencies offer some recreation programmes and employers can send their maids to us. But the problem is, will employers want to send their maids to agencies on their days off?> What about having more part-time foreign maids?> That is a workable idea if the Government allows foreign maids’ agencies to operate as cleaning agencies as well. This means the maids come into the country under our charge instead of under the employer’s name. We train them and they stay with us.Many families need house cleaning services but they do not need full-time, live-in maids.Recruitment fee for a maid here on a two-year contract works out to about RM240 a month, inclusive of immigration levy and air ticket home.Factor in the monthly salary of about RM550, food and lodging of a few hundred ringgit, and it adds up to at least RM1,200 to have a full-time maid.Each part-time maid costs about RM40 for four hours of work. Say, a family engages one for twice a week. It works out to RM320 a month.There is also national interest –less money will flow out of the country in the form of recruitment fees and remittance.But the shortage of maids will never be solved. We must work towards reducing our dependency on Indonesia.The Government has opened up four source countries – Laos, Vietnam, India and Nepal. Unfortunately, women from Nepal are not allowed to work here as maids. Laos also does not allow its women to work abroad and India wants RM1,400 a month in wages for its maids.Papa is also urging the Government to consider our appeal to approve Myanmar as a source country. We hope the Myanmar government will be kind enough to allow their womenfolk to work here as maids. However, we have to bear in mind that there is also a considerable population of Myanmar male workers in our country.Therefore, we are still dependent on Indonesia although there is a small number of maids coming from Cambodia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.China is an option that looks promising. There have been enquiries from some provinces in China about sending maids here. There is demand from some upper middle-class families to hire Chinese maids.But Papa understands the strong objection from some women’s groups who fear the potential social ills, such as maids wrecking families.But closing China off totally is not an option. Maybe we can start with a control group first. Allow a small group of maids from China and set strict conditions. For example, we can make it compulsory that each household must get the consent of the wife, or we can set the age of maids allowed to work here.Again, getting maids from China will not solve the shortage problem, but it will ease the demand by some 20%.> Has the welfare of maids been seriously looked into over the years?> Yes. In each MOU with Indonesia, we adopt more measures. Examples are compulsory bank accounts made under the maid’s names and compulsory insurance. The association also works closely with the Indonesian Embassy to report cases of abuse.> It is understood that there are other outside pressures apart from Indonesia pushing for Malaysia to make the rest day a must.> To be fair to the Government, they are being pushed into a corner in this issue although they have been very strict about the need to protect maids. The parties making the pressure must come and talk to the right stakeholders to have a holistic understanding of the issue. As I have said, don’t throw away the whole cart just because of a few bad apples.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Maid Issue: Improve Contract To Satisfy Both Sides, Says Ambassador
PUTRAJAYA, June 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs to improve the contract between the employer and domestic maid that will give satisfaction to both sides, Malaysia's ambasasador to Indonesia, Datuk Zainal Abidin Zain said.In welcoming the government's suggestion that maids should be given a day off in a week, he said there must be changes in the employment area so as to give rights to both the maid and employer."Although there have been a number of abused maid cases, let's not allow this issue affect the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia."The Malaysian government does not condone such abuse, so let us try to work out a system to the satisfaction of both countries," he told Bernama at the 7th Heads of Mission Conference, here, Tuesday.The six-day conference held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam had said that the off day provision would be incorporated into the contract of employment to be signed by the employer, maid and the agency responsible for bringing the maid into the country.On the Indonesian government's plan to temporarily stop sending domestic helpers to Malaysia after an Indonesian maid was recently tortured and injured, he said they were still considering the matter and would have more discussions before making a decision.The latest maid abuse case was that had befallen Siti Hajar Sadli from Limbangan, Garut, West Java.Zainal said one of the solutions to the issue could be that Chinese households should employ maids from China or the Philippines to avoid problems involving food and religious practices.He said other measures to curb maid abuse could be monitoring every three months, whereby the agencies should be given some role to play as they had brought the maids in."To renew the work permit, the employer and maid should come and see the Immigration officer as part of an effective monitoring system to check the problem," he said.On the anti-Malaysia campaign in Indonesia following the Manohara, Ambalat and maid abuse issues, Zainal said there was no real danger for Malaysians to visit Indonesia.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Amend Act to protect rights of maids
KUALA TERENGGANU: Abuse of foreign workers can only be curbed through legal protection and not training, as proposed by the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa).
CARAM Asia, a regional coalition of migrant rights groups, said it was better for the Malaysian government to amend the Employment Act to protect the rights of maids.Papa had recently proposed that employers should attend a one-day course on their responsibilities and duties to curb abuses. The proposal came in the wake of allegations by an Indonesian maid, Siti Hajar, that she had been abused by her employer over the past three years. CARAM Asia Regional Coordinator Cynthia Gabriel yesterday suggested there be a comprehensive standard contract stating terms and condition of work, with a well defined job scope and a minimum wage. There should also be a prohibition on employers or agents keeping a maid's passport and other personal legal documents, she said.
Gabriel said under the Malaysian Employment Act 1955, foreign domestic workers were defined as "servants" and as such were excluded from regulations relating to such issues as rest days, hours of work, and termination benefits."And it doesn't help that maids are the lowest paid workers. Because their passports and other legal documents are held by employers or agents, they risk arrest by the immigration services and Rela if they attempt to leave their employers to seek protection."We are also concerned that their job scope is defined by employers. In many cases, they find themselves working not only in the employer's house but also in the homes of the employers' relatives, restaurants and other business outlets owned by their employer."As a result, some of them have to work as long as 16 hours a day, seven days a week without a break in a year. "Amending Malaysia's domestic legislation would also be in line with international labour and human rights standards," she said.
CARAM Asia, a regional coalition of migrant rights groups, said it was better for the Malaysian government to amend the Employment Act to protect the rights of maids.Papa had recently proposed that employers should attend a one-day course on their responsibilities and duties to curb abuses. The proposal came in the wake of allegations by an Indonesian maid, Siti Hajar, that she had been abused by her employer over the past three years. CARAM Asia Regional Coordinator Cynthia Gabriel yesterday suggested there be a comprehensive standard contract stating terms and condition of work, with a well defined job scope and a minimum wage. There should also be a prohibition on employers or agents keeping a maid's passport and other personal legal documents, she said.
Gabriel said under the Malaysian Employment Act 1955, foreign domestic workers were defined as "servants" and as such were excluded from regulations relating to such issues as rest days, hours of work, and termination benefits."And it doesn't help that maids are the lowest paid workers. Because their passports and other legal documents are held by employers or agents, they risk arrest by the immigration services and Rela if they attempt to leave their employers to seek protection."We are also concerned that their job scope is defined by employers. In many cases, they find themselves working not only in the employer's house but also in the homes of the employers' relatives, restaurants and other business outlets owned by their employer."As a result, some of them have to work as long as 16 hours a day, seven days a week without a break in a year. "Amending Malaysia's domestic legislation would also be in line with international labour and human rights standards," she said.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Don't treat your maid like your dog
Ili Jun 22, 09 5:27pm
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Shocking! Maids are humans too.As parents, it is our responsibility to gave our attention and love to our own child. Do you think your child needs a maid when you are around the house on weekends or at night after we come home from work? No! Believe me, the children don’t need or want the maid around them. They need and want their parents. Just because we have hire maids, that doesn't mean we can take for granted our responsibility as parents. We work from 9am to 5pm, come back home feeling tired but so are the maids. Believe me, it is not easy to take care of the child, cook, clean the house etc, sometimes even I can't do it alone. Again, your maid is human, they need rest and their own time and space after a long day work. But like I said as parents, even if you're tired, this is not an excuse. It is the parents that have to entertain/give attention to your child. Just imagine if even on weekends the maid takes the child to the playground. Just ask yourself, ‘where were you when the child was growing up? Personally. I think parenting is not just about supporting a child financially but also emotionally.Correct me if I'm wrong but to me, working as maid is also a profession and deserves equal treatment and benefits (like any other employee) such as off-days and medical support etc. Do you think they come here gladly to serve us Malaysians? If so, that is a laziest thought a human being can have.They came here to work in Malaysia so that they can support their families back home. It is the same concept of ‘work’ that we do except for the differences in categories. But it is still a job. We hire them as maids to work for us, but that doesn't mean that we can treat them like a robot or a slave. True, they work in our homes, we give them a room to sleep in etc, but that is part of their benefits for choosing to be a maid. And by all means, they deserve an off-day (like Saturday/Sunday) that they can enjoy. An off-day meaning they don't have to any of the jobs we employed them for. So when they're having their day off, then it is our responsibility to do our own chores over the weekend or on our off-days. I am proud to say that I have befriended some of the maids that I met. And they are lucky to have nice and fair bosses, but many of their friends don’t. They have to work long hours, are lowly paid, have no medical support and are sometime treated like animals.They are forced to take contraceptive pills so that they won’t get pregnant even if they are married. They can’t have a relationship or go on dates. Come on, these are natural human feelings; how can you stop love? Love is beyond borders and we can't control it. In relation to this love thing, to me if it is about a behaviour/attitude problem so please settle it like normal people do and that is to talk about this problem with your maid. But if the problem persists, then just find another maid that respect your rules and regulations. But don't treat them like they are dogs. Even dogs have feelings that should be respected.Both side, the bosses and the maids should respect and consider one another. Just imagine if you, the employer, are treated the same way by your own bosses. Would you like that? I'm sure you also couldn’t stand the stress and would protest. It is the same with these maids because you know what? They are just like us - human beings.
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Shocking! Maids are humans too.As parents, it is our responsibility to gave our attention and love to our own child. Do you think your child needs a maid when you are around the house on weekends or at night after we come home from work? No! Believe me, the children don’t need or want the maid around them. They need and want their parents. Just because we have hire maids, that doesn't mean we can take for granted our responsibility as parents. We work from 9am to 5pm, come back home feeling tired but so are the maids. Believe me, it is not easy to take care of the child, cook, clean the house etc, sometimes even I can't do it alone. Again, your maid is human, they need rest and their own time and space after a long day work. But like I said as parents, even if you're tired, this is not an excuse. It is the parents that have to entertain/give attention to your child. Just imagine if even on weekends the maid takes the child to the playground. Just ask yourself, ‘where were you when the child was growing up? Personally. I think parenting is not just about supporting a child financially but also emotionally.Correct me if I'm wrong but to me, working as maid is also a profession and deserves equal treatment and benefits (like any other employee) such as off-days and medical support etc. Do you think they come here gladly to serve us Malaysians? If so, that is a laziest thought a human being can have.They came here to work in Malaysia so that they can support their families back home. It is the same concept of ‘work’ that we do except for the differences in categories. But it is still a job. We hire them as maids to work for us, but that doesn't mean that we can treat them like a robot or a slave. True, they work in our homes, we give them a room to sleep in etc, but that is part of their benefits for choosing to be a maid. And by all means, they deserve an off-day (like Saturday/Sunday) that they can enjoy. An off-day meaning they don't have to any of the jobs we employed them for. So when they're having their day off, then it is our responsibility to do our own chores over the weekend or on our off-days. I am proud to say that I have befriended some of the maids that I met. And they are lucky to have nice and fair bosses, but many of their friends don’t. They have to work long hours, are lowly paid, have no medical support and are sometime treated like animals.They are forced to take contraceptive pills so that they won’t get pregnant even if they are married. They can’t have a relationship or go on dates. Come on, these are natural human feelings; how can you stop love? Love is beyond borders and we can't control it. In relation to this love thing, to me if it is about a behaviour/attitude problem so please settle it like normal people do and that is to talk about this problem with your maid. But if the problem persists, then just find another maid that respect your rules and regulations. But don't treat them like they are dogs. Even dogs have feelings that should be respected.Both side, the bosses and the maids should respect and consider one another. Just imagine if you, the employer, are treated the same way by your own bosses. Would you like that? I'm sure you also couldn’t stand the stress and would protest. It is the same with these maids because you know what? They are just like us - human beings.
Maids here not protected from exploitation
Chris Pearman Jun 22, 09 5:25pm
In connection to the recent call by the Indonesian government for protection of Indonesian foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Malaysia, Caram Asia would like to reiterate our recommendation for the Malaysian government to amend the Employment Act to ensure a comprehensive legal measure to protect the rights of all domestic workers. The proposal by the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) for employers to attend a one-day course on their responsibilities and duties will not prevent abuses. How can FDWs who are confined to private homes, without a day off away from the surveillance of their employers and with their passports and legal documents held by employers, leave the house to seek help when abused and exploited?Therefore we reiterate our call that the government should:Incorporate a comprehensive mandatory standard contract for domestic workers into the Employment Act without discrimination on the workers' nationalities, stating clearly terms and conditions of work with a well-defined job scope, a minimum wage and prohibiting employers or agents from keeping a domestic workers' passport and any other personal legal documents. This contract spells out all the labour rights for FDWs in the Employment Act which would then be enforceable as part of the Employment Act. Ensure the right to a paid day off for all domestic workers is enforced by the end of 2009 as announced by the Human Resources Minister.Develop readress mechanisms for more effective accountability of non-state actors (employers, recruitment agencies, brokers) for violations against domestic workers. Under existing legislation, domestic workers in Malaysia are defined as ‘servants’ under the Malaysian Employment Act 1955, and as such they are currently excluded from regulations relating to such issues as rest days, hours of work, and termination benefits. The situation is further compounded by the fact that FDW are the lowest paid workers (especially Indonesians who constitute the majority of FDW) in the absence of a legal minimum wage. Yet, with their passports and other legal documents held by employers or agents, they risk arrest by the immigration services and Rela if they attempt to leave their employers to access the justice system.We also note with great concern that as the job description of the FDW is arbitrarily defined by employers, the current legal framework does not protect them from exploitation. In many cases, FDWs find themselves working not only in the employer's house but also in the homes of the employers' relatives, restaurants and other business outlets owned by their employer. As a result, some FDWs have to work as long as sixteen hours a day, seven days a week without a break in a year. Malaysia's move to amend its domestic legislation would also mark a move to fall in line with international labour and human rights standards. The country has already committed to uphold human rights protections through its ratification of both the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). As such, the Malaysian government must acknowledge its commitment to this through its transference of these principles into domestic law with subsequent enforcement. Only then will their commitments to international obligations be met, and the rights of women and children be guaranteed under the law. The General Comment 26 of the Cedaw Convention acknowledges that domestic workers should be protected by labour laws and entitled to wage and hour regulations, health and safety codes, holiday and vocation leave regulations etc. This convention adopted by Malaysia also states that `these laws should include mechanisms by which to monitor the workplace conditions of migrant women’. If the state can hold perpetrators of violence against women accountable for what they do in private homes, they must also monitor the working conditions of FDWs.Next year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will start working on the process of adopting a new standard for domestic workers that could possibly lead to a new specific Domestic Workers Convention. Therefore, if Malaysia can amend and make additions to domestic legislation on domestic workers, it will be a progression in line with the international community that will convene during the 2010 ILO Conference on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The writer is attached to Caram Asia, ian NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
In connection to the recent call by the Indonesian government for protection of Indonesian foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Malaysia, Caram Asia would like to reiterate our recommendation for the Malaysian government to amend the Employment Act to ensure a comprehensive legal measure to protect the rights of all domestic workers. The proposal by the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) for employers to attend a one-day course on their responsibilities and duties will not prevent abuses. How can FDWs who are confined to private homes, without a day off away from the surveillance of their employers and with their passports and legal documents held by employers, leave the house to seek help when abused and exploited?Therefore we reiterate our call that the government should:Incorporate a comprehensive mandatory standard contract for domestic workers into the Employment Act without discrimination on the workers' nationalities, stating clearly terms and conditions of work with a well-defined job scope, a minimum wage and prohibiting employers or agents from keeping a domestic workers' passport and any other personal legal documents. This contract spells out all the labour rights for FDWs in the Employment Act which would then be enforceable as part of the Employment Act. Ensure the right to a paid day off for all domestic workers is enforced by the end of 2009 as announced by the Human Resources Minister.Develop readress mechanisms for more effective accountability of non-state actors (employers, recruitment agencies, brokers) for violations against domestic workers. Under existing legislation, domestic workers in Malaysia are defined as ‘servants’ under the Malaysian Employment Act 1955, and as such they are currently excluded from regulations relating to such issues as rest days, hours of work, and termination benefits. The situation is further compounded by the fact that FDW are the lowest paid workers (especially Indonesians who constitute the majority of FDW) in the absence of a legal minimum wage. Yet, with their passports and other legal documents held by employers or agents, they risk arrest by the immigration services and Rela if they attempt to leave their employers to access the justice system.We also note with great concern that as the job description of the FDW is arbitrarily defined by employers, the current legal framework does not protect them from exploitation. In many cases, FDWs find themselves working not only in the employer's house but also in the homes of the employers' relatives, restaurants and other business outlets owned by their employer. As a result, some FDWs have to work as long as sixteen hours a day, seven days a week without a break in a year. Malaysia's move to amend its domestic legislation would also mark a move to fall in line with international labour and human rights standards. The country has already committed to uphold human rights protections through its ratification of both the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). As such, the Malaysian government must acknowledge its commitment to this through its transference of these principles into domestic law with subsequent enforcement. Only then will their commitments to international obligations be met, and the rights of women and children be guaranteed under the law. The General Comment 26 of the Cedaw Convention acknowledges that domestic workers should be protected by labour laws and entitled to wage and hour regulations, health and safety codes, holiday and vocation leave regulations etc. This convention adopted by Malaysia also states that `these laws should include mechanisms by which to monitor the workplace conditions of migrant women’. If the state can hold perpetrators of violence against women accountable for what they do in private homes, they must also monitor the working conditions of FDWs.Next year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will start working on the process of adopting a new standard for domestic workers that could possibly lead to a new specific Domestic Workers Convention. Therefore, if Malaysia can amend and make additions to domestic legislation on domestic workers, it will be a progression in line with the international community that will convene during the 2010 ILO Conference on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The writer is attached to Caram Asia, ian NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Friday, June 19, 2009
biodata rundati
status ready untuk berangkat boleh masuk dlm 1 minggu kos RM 5500 tidak termasuk levi
complete agensi RM 6800
complete agensi RM 6800
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
biodata susilawati
deposit RM 3000, 2nd payment RM 2500 upon cv ready, pakej agensi RM 6800, gaji RM 500, salary deductions 5 months @ pakej RM 5500 levi 445 and fomema 190 not included
telah ditempah majikan 16/6
biodata nurhayati
deposit RM 3000
pasport will ready within one week
telah ada majikan sepang tempah 21/6
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
biodata amaliyah sopiyatun - 1987
Nama : Amaliyah Sopiyatun
Tempat / Taggal Lahir : Brebes / 15th November 1987
Warga : Indonesia
Agama : Islam
Status : Belum Menikah
Pendidikan : SMP
Tinggi / Berat : 165cm /45 kg
Alamat : Jl. Rusman RT 04. RW 03, Desa Dukuh Ringin, Kecamatan Wanasari, Kabupaten Brebes, Jawa Tengah
Nama Ayah : Cayo
Nama Ibu : Kaipah
Anak : tiga dari empat bersaudara
telah ditempah majikan 12/6
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Hotline For Maids ..
PUTRAJAYA, June 10 (Bernama) -- Abused maids can call the Manpower Department's hotline 03-88889111 for assistance in an emergency, Manpower director-general Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim said today.The maids could also get immediate assistance from the nearest Manpower office, he told Bernama.He was commenting on the report on an Indonesian maid, Siti Hajar, who was abused by her employer and ran away to take refuge at the Indonesian embassy.Ismail said his officers had interviewed Siti Hajar and would assist her to get the arrears of her salary from her employer. The employer is now under police remand.Ismail said contrary to what the trade unions maintained, maids in the country were protected under the law."The contract which maids have with their employers is enforceable and can be used to obtain lost pay, leave or other benefits they are entitled to under the contract," he added.Meanwhile, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) called on the government to blacklist employers and their family members who abuse or mistreat their maids.Its vice-president A. Balasubramaniam said abuse of maids was a great cause of concern as it not only meant the denial of human rights, but also gave a negative image of the country to the outside world, particularly the source country.Balasubramaniam said once a family had been found guilty of abusing a maid, all members should be barred from employing a maid.He said the Manpower Department's hotline number should be given wide publicity and in fact be given to the maids by their agents when they arrived in the country.He reiterated MTUC's stand that these maids should be given at least one day off a week in which they could use it to lodge complaints at the Manpower Department if they were abused.Meanwhile, Tenaganita, the non-governmental organisation which specialises in assisting abused maids, had so far this year rescued 148 maids and some of them were as young as 14 years old.It director Irene Fernandez said Tenaganita's work with the domestic workers revealed that "the key cause of continued abuse, violence and exploitation is because both employers and the state regard the work environment of these maids, that is the home, to be a private domain"."Thus, an outsider cannot interfere in this private domain and so the abuse continues," Fernandez added.She said the exclusion of the maid from the Employment Act 1955, denied them the right to off days, medical benefits, overtime pay, annual leave and social security benefits.Fernandez also took enforcement agencies to task for being slow in their investigations."The maid is a human being with dignity, rights and needs, so it is essential for the state and the community to ensure that she is adequately protected," she stressed.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
We specialized in the following areas:-
• Supply of Foreign Housemaids ( Indonesia and Phillipine) . • Consultant for recruitment of Foreign Workers for various sectors (manufacturing, factories, constructions, plantations/agriculture, restaurants and other service industries). • Documentation and Application of work permit. • Payment of Levies and other government fees. • Annual Renewal. • Fomema. • Cancellation / Check Out Memo. • Any other housemaid services arrangement.
• Supply of Foreign Housemaids ( Indonesia and Phillipine) . • Consultant for recruitment of Foreign Workers for various sectors (manufacturing, factories, constructions, plantations/agriculture, restaurants and other service industries). • Documentation and Application of work permit. • Payment of Levies and other government fees. • Annual Renewal. • Fomema. • Cancellation / Check Out Memo. • Any other housemaid services arrangement.
Monday, June 1, 2009
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