Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ministry May Reduce Levy For Employing Indonesian Maids
KLUANG, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The Human Resource Ministry may consider reducing levy charged for employing Indonesian maids, as an initiative to ease the burden of employers, said its Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on Saturday.The Minister however, did not disclose the proposed amount, since the matter has yet to be discussed with his Indonesian counterpart."We will discuss the prospect of reducing levy for employing Indonesian maids, with the Indonesian authorities," said Subramaniam after opening the National Job Carnival 2009 here today.He added that his ministry would table a proposal to reduce levy on Indonesian maids during a joint meeting next month or the month after.Employers in the country had expressed concern with the high levy incurred for employing Indonesian maids which can cost between RM6,000 to RM7,000 for each maid.Speaking of the request for the salary of Indonesian maids to be raised above RM800 a month, Subramaniam said such a proposal or request had never been made by the Indonesian authorities."Such calls has only been heard from the country's non-governmental organisations and not from the Indonesian government," he said.The ministry will only consider any request from the Indonesian government, he said.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Indonesia maid issue to be finalised after Raya
by pekwan on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 Indonesian maids Local Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 06:53:00
Mahmood: Maid’s salary and agents fees are two key aspects to to be finalisedA REVISED mechanism in the hiring and recruiting of Indonesian maids will only be known when all the stakeholders - including both Malaysian and Indonesian authorities — meet after the festive season later this month to finalise matters. To begin with, the authorities have not agreed on a fixed minimum wage, given that a mutually agreeable salary range has yet to be agreed on for local employers.
Ministry of Home Affairs secretary-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said two key aspects on the agenda of that meeting will be the salary range that local employers and the maids agree on, and the fees currently charged by the agents handling these maids from the both countries.
“Right now, we have not agreed on the RM600 fixed sum (proposed by the Indonesian Embassy) as we have yet to establish a salary range. We need to finalise this at the meeting after Hari Raya,” said Mahmood.
He was responding to the call by Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) to abolish the exorbitant processing, recruitment and agency fees, which currently is between RM6,000 and RM8,500, borne by employers when hiring new maids, if a fixed minimum wage was decided by the government.
“The agency fees too will be discussed at the meeting which will be attended by MTUC, Human Resources Ministry and the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (PAPA) and our counterpart(Indonesia),” he said.
Pressed further on the chances of dropping the processing fees he said it will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting.
“I don’t want to raise false hopes but it will be definitely raised,” Mahmood assured.
Malay Mail had reported yesterday that MTUC had said the RM600 wage proposal by the Indonesian Embassy was acceptable for employers based on a study it conducted in the Klang Valley six months ago.
However, the employers had insisted that should a minimum wage be fixed, then, the authorities should do away with the processing fees, levied on them when hiring new maids.
Besides that, employers would also have to fork out an additional RM450 yearly for the renewal of visas, which applies to all maids.
MTUC believes that it would be more appropriate for authorities to charge the employers a minimal fee for essential areas like medical tests and air fares, while they cancelled the other excessive fees.
On the other hand, Human Resources Ministry was also firm that wages of Indonesian maids be determined by market forces, and not by any third party.
On Sept 4, the Ministry had said all foreign and local domestic maids in the country could expect to enjoy one rest day a week before the end of the year.
Besides, these domestic maids would be given the flexibility to choose and even accumulate their rest days.Currently, only Filipino maids enjoy a rest day, that is Sunday to help them fulfill their religious obligation.
The labour sector consists of more than 320,000-odd foreign domestic maids, of which the bulk comes from Indonesia.
The rest are from the Philippines (15,000) while Cambodia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka in total, make up some 2,000 domestic maids.
Mahmood: Maid’s salary and agents fees are two key aspects to to be finalisedA REVISED mechanism in the hiring and recruiting of Indonesian maids will only be known when all the stakeholders - including both Malaysian and Indonesian authorities — meet after the festive season later this month to finalise matters. To begin with, the authorities have not agreed on a fixed minimum wage, given that a mutually agreeable salary range has yet to be agreed on for local employers.
Ministry of Home Affairs secretary-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said two key aspects on the agenda of that meeting will be the salary range that local employers and the maids agree on, and the fees currently charged by the agents handling these maids from the both countries.
“Right now, we have not agreed on the RM600 fixed sum (proposed by the Indonesian Embassy) as we have yet to establish a salary range. We need to finalise this at the meeting after Hari Raya,” said Mahmood.
He was responding to the call by Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) to abolish the exorbitant processing, recruitment and agency fees, which currently is between RM6,000 and RM8,500, borne by employers when hiring new maids, if a fixed minimum wage was decided by the government.
“The agency fees too will be discussed at the meeting which will be attended by MTUC, Human Resources Ministry and the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (PAPA) and our counterpart(Indonesia),” he said.
Pressed further on the chances of dropping the processing fees he said it will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting.
“I don’t want to raise false hopes but it will be definitely raised,” Mahmood assured.
Malay Mail had reported yesterday that MTUC had said the RM600 wage proposal by the Indonesian Embassy was acceptable for employers based on a study it conducted in the Klang Valley six months ago.
However, the employers had insisted that should a minimum wage be fixed, then, the authorities should do away with the processing fees, levied on them when hiring new maids.
Besides that, employers would also have to fork out an additional RM450 yearly for the renewal of visas, which applies to all maids.
MTUC believes that it would be more appropriate for authorities to charge the employers a minimal fee for essential areas like medical tests and air fares, while they cancelled the other excessive fees.
On the other hand, Human Resources Ministry was also firm that wages of Indonesian maids be determined by market forces, and not by any third party.
On Sept 4, the Ministry had said all foreign and local domestic maids in the country could expect to enjoy one rest day a week before the end of the year.
Besides, these domestic maids would be given the flexibility to choose and even accumulate their rest days.Currently, only Filipino maids enjoy a rest day, that is Sunday to help them fulfill their religious obligation.
The labour sector consists of more than 320,000-odd foreign domestic maids, of which the bulk comes from Indonesia.
The rest are from the Philippines (15,000) while Cambodia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka in total, make up some 2,000 domestic maids.
Take the effort to understand your maid
WE have imported thousands of “workers” and “maids” to Malaysia. And like us, they have families and friends. They have families who love them.
Indonesian parents living in the villages are no different from any parents who love their children. Furthermore, Indonesians living in the villages are very community based compared with Malaysians.
Indonesians maids may earn more money overseas, but working overseas is always a second choice. Oftentimes, the best maids stay and work in Indonesia.
Malaysians do not understand that not all maids are equal in education or training. The use of maids has evolved over many years in Indonesia, with an accepted system of recognition that is simply unheard of in Malaysia.
In Malaysia, the maids are thrown into a new culture and a new system of working that breaks with their tradition. While maids are lumped and paid as a homogenous group in Malaysia, there is a clear system of recognition and pride among maids in Indonesia.
There are the junior maids (who do the basic everyday cleaning) and the senior maids (who do the cooking and have access to the employer’s family quarters). Then there are the babysitters and the governesses, both of whom have a higher level of education and are generally higher paid.
A maid may only have some primary school education, whereas a babysitter is required to complete Form 3 and babysitter training (normally a month of basic training and an internship with a hospital).
In many cases, maids work without formal attire whereas babysitters and governesses have to wear uniforms.
In Indonesia, there is a clear demarcation of pay and recognition by education and seniority. While Malaysians may consider themselves as living in a more “advanced society”, to Indonesians, this lack of role separation and work recognition is seen as crass.
It is further reinforced in the way we talk to them – kasar. Worse, before the maids arrive on the shores of Malaysia, we already have a negative impression of them – lower educated humans who do not live in the same social class as we do.
We offer them no respect and we make no effort to understand their family, their standing in society, and their individual human needs. To us, they are just paid workers.
Another critical issue that separates maids in Malaysia and Indonesia is the concept of family and community.
In Indonesia, when the maid has toiled loyally for the employer’s family, they are sometimes absorbed as a part of an “extended family”. Not only is the maid paid a salary, but her welfare lies strictly with the employer’s family.
Of course there are lots of conflicts between employers and maids in Indonesia, but sometimes in an almost perfect situation, maids and employers co-exist harmoniously, helping one another.
However, maids arrive on our shores stripped of pride, recognition, and family support. They are abused the minute they sign up with “kampong agents” who are often wolves in sheep’s clothing – a friendly neighbour promising riches to the family.
Often times, these “kampong agents” are paid by the family, and the family is obligated to them for providing a wonderful opportunity for their child.
The maid is then sent to key cities like Jakarta and kept in a “holding area”, where she has to pay several hundred US dollars for food and training while waiting for an assignment.
She cannot leave the compound and is cut off from her family. She does not dare to run away because her family is already in debt.
Until and unless Malaysians learn to adapt and adopt maids as a part of an extended family and as long as we continue to push them to the fringes of society, we should take a long, hard look at our own humanity in the mirror every morning.
Indonesian parents living in the villages are no different from any parents who love their children. Furthermore, Indonesians living in the villages are very community based compared with Malaysians.
Indonesians maids may earn more money overseas, but working overseas is always a second choice. Oftentimes, the best maids stay and work in Indonesia.
Malaysians do not understand that not all maids are equal in education or training. The use of maids has evolved over many years in Indonesia, with an accepted system of recognition that is simply unheard of in Malaysia.
In Malaysia, the maids are thrown into a new culture and a new system of working that breaks with their tradition. While maids are lumped and paid as a homogenous group in Malaysia, there is a clear system of recognition and pride among maids in Indonesia.
There are the junior maids (who do the basic everyday cleaning) and the senior maids (who do the cooking and have access to the employer’s family quarters). Then there are the babysitters and the governesses, both of whom have a higher level of education and are generally higher paid.
A maid may only have some primary school education, whereas a babysitter is required to complete Form 3 and babysitter training (normally a month of basic training and an internship with a hospital).
In many cases, maids work without formal attire whereas babysitters and governesses have to wear uniforms.
In Indonesia, there is a clear demarcation of pay and recognition by education and seniority. While Malaysians may consider themselves as living in a more “advanced society”, to Indonesians, this lack of role separation and work recognition is seen as crass.
It is further reinforced in the way we talk to them – kasar. Worse, before the maids arrive on the shores of Malaysia, we already have a negative impression of them – lower educated humans who do not live in the same social class as we do.
We offer them no respect and we make no effort to understand their family, their standing in society, and their individual human needs. To us, they are just paid workers.
Another critical issue that separates maids in Malaysia and Indonesia is the concept of family and community.
In Indonesia, when the maid has toiled loyally for the employer’s family, they are sometimes absorbed as a part of an “extended family”. Not only is the maid paid a salary, but her welfare lies strictly with the employer’s family.
Of course there are lots of conflicts between employers and maids in Indonesia, but sometimes in an almost perfect situation, maids and employers co-exist harmoniously, helping one another.
However, maids arrive on our shores stripped of pride, recognition, and family support. They are abused the minute they sign up with “kampong agents” who are often wolves in sheep’s clothing – a friendly neighbour promising riches to the family.
Often times, these “kampong agents” are paid by the family, and the family is obligated to them for providing a wonderful opportunity for their child.
The maid is then sent to key cities like Jakarta and kept in a “holding area”, where she has to pay several hundred US dollars for food and training while waiting for an assignment.
She cannot leave the compound and is cut off from her family. She does not dare to run away because her family is already in debt.
Until and unless Malaysians learn to adapt and adopt maids as a part of an extended family and as long as we continue to push them to the fringes of society, we should take a long, hard look at our own humanity in the mirror every morning.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
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Tuesday, September 8, 2009
biodata shanti irham
pakej rm 5500 tidak termasuk levi fomemamasuk immediate gaji rm 500 potongan gaji 5 bln
600 + 250 + 450 +200 jika mahu agensi urus
biodata juita
pakej RM 6000 kristen maid levi fomema not included6 months deduction RM 550 monthly
available within 1 week upon confirm
other charges 600 + 250 + 450 + 200 done by agencies
' Pembantu rumah ’ doing all kinds of jobs
THE Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) is avoiding the core cause of maid abuse by resorting to reasoning race and religious differences as the cause of the problem, just as a politician would.
We believe that Papa is merely trying to strengthen their cause and business security as being the only legal and rightful ‘central processing unit’ for foreign maids.
I move around the country a lot and mix with various levels of the Malaysian community and I also get to help some foreign workers in the course. Let us look around and see where foreign female workers are employed.
They work mostly in restaurants, pasar malams, car wash, provision shops, mini-markets, wet markets, hawker centres or they are employed by single parents who can’t even afford a decent life for themselves, leave alone a maid. Some are employed to take care of old folks, bedridden to the extent that the maid has to wash their soiled bottom, never mind the heavy lifting involved. They are others doing office cleaning, house cleaning, facility cleaning, working in landscape industry, vegetable farms and even puppy breeding homes.
And yet when we look at their passports and their work permits, it states ‘Pembantu Rumah’. How can this happen? These foreign maids who enter the country thinking that they are going to be employed as house maids end up being treated like slaves. After all, the work that they have to do in the list above, they also have to take care of the household chores when they get back home, including cooking, washing more than one car, scrubbing drains, gardening and taking care of toddlers.
Can Papa explain how foreign female workers brought in as maids end up doing all these? To see the truth, all Papa or immigration officers have to do is to just walk around any pasar malam, pasar pagi, hawker centres and restaurants to check their passports. To these employers, paying RM400 for 18 to 20 hours work is a bargain!
And now, they say maids should not be given day-off every week. While the rest of the world must have a day-off, they say the maids shouldn’t.
We are a Hindu family and we have a Muslim Indonesian maid. She has been with us for 10 years now. She’s going home for the coming Ramadan just as she has done many times over the years. She would return to continue working with us.
To us, she is not just a maid but also an important part of the family as she has taken care of our children, especially our 10-year-old boy since he was a baby, our household, our belongings and food in good times and hard times.
The point to note here is that foreign maids are humans just like us.
Give her a weekend off if she wants. Are we so lazy and spoilt that we can’t take over the household chores for the weekend. Are we so apathetic and hard that we must enslave her 24-seven. She is a human too and she has her needs to rest and recover in body and mind, to meet her friends/relatives, to buy some personal things, shopping or just plain hanging around to clear the mind and stress. Then she’ll be back to serve you happily for another six hard days. It is when we enslave and lock them up that they will resort to do something that you would not want her too.
My advice is don’t employ teenagers as maids. Employ middle-age women as they fare better and are experienced housekeepers, mature and toned down in life that fit them for the functions of a maid. Maids come from living conditions where they have never seen basic electrical or electronic equipments and tools that we take granted for, such as electrical irons, cookers ovens. Don’t expect them to know how to use these things. They don’t know how to iron your clothing or do your laundry. Teach them to. Maids don’t come knowing how to cook your Malay, Chinese or Indian food. Give them time to learn.
We believe that Papa is merely trying to strengthen their cause and business security as being the only legal and rightful ‘central processing unit’ for foreign maids.
I move around the country a lot and mix with various levels of the Malaysian community and I also get to help some foreign workers in the course. Let us look around and see where foreign female workers are employed.
They work mostly in restaurants, pasar malams, car wash, provision shops, mini-markets, wet markets, hawker centres or they are employed by single parents who can’t even afford a decent life for themselves, leave alone a maid. Some are employed to take care of old folks, bedridden to the extent that the maid has to wash their soiled bottom, never mind the heavy lifting involved. They are others doing office cleaning, house cleaning, facility cleaning, working in landscape industry, vegetable farms and even puppy breeding homes.
And yet when we look at their passports and their work permits, it states ‘Pembantu Rumah’. How can this happen? These foreign maids who enter the country thinking that they are going to be employed as house maids end up being treated like slaves. After all, the work that they have to do in the list above, they also have to take care of the household chores when they get back home, including cooking, washing more than one car, scrubbing drains, gardening and taking care of toddlers.
Can Papa explain how foreign female workers brought in as maids end up doing all these? To see the truth, all Papa or immigration officers have to do is to just walk around any pasar malam, pasar pagi, hawker centres and restaurants to check their passports. To these employers, paying RM400 for 18 to 20 hours work is a bargain!
And now, they say maids should not be given day-off every week. While the rest of the world must have a day-off, they say the maids shouldn’t.
We are a Hindu family and we have a Muslim Indonesian maid. She has been with us for 10 years now. She’s going home for the coming Ramadan just as she has done many times over the years. She would return to continue working with us.
To us, she is not just a maid but also an important part of the family as she has taken care of our children, especially our 10-year-old boy since he was a baby, our household, our belongings and food in good times and hard times.
The point to note here is that foreign maids are humans just like us.
Give her a weekend off if she wants. Are we so lazy and spoilt that we can’t take over the household chores for the weekend. Are we so apathetic and hard that we must enslave her 24-seven. She is a human too and she has her needs to rest and recover in body and mind, to meet her friends/relatives, to buy some personal things, shopping or just plain hanging around to clear the mind and stress. Then she’ll be back to serve you happily for another six hard days. It is when we enslave and lock them up that they will resort to do something that you would not want her too.
My advice is don’t employ teenagers as maids. Employ middle-age women as they fare better and are experienced housekeepers, mature and toned down in life that fit them for the functions of a maid. Maids come from living conditions where they have never seen basic electrical or electronic equipments and tools that we take granted for, such as electrical irons, cookers ovens. Don’t expect them to know how to use these things. They don’t know how to iron your clothing or do your laundry. Teach them to. Maids don’t come knowing how to cook your Malay, Chinese or Indian food. Give them time to learn.
Are we too dependent on foreign maids ???
HOW ironic is it that the Indonesian authorities are trying to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
By proposing a hefty RM800 a month salary for Indonesian maids, they are effectively pricing themselves out of the market.
In a way it is good as this will compel every household to rethink about their real need for a maid.
Have we asked ourselves whether we are too dependent on foreign maids so much so that the hands that rock the cradle of our future generation are not Malaysian women but Indonesian maids!
Although many families may swear that their maids are good, loyal and indispensable, the question is; are we so incapable of doing our own housework or caring for our children that we have to depend on a maid or maids (as some families have three or four domestic workers)?
Many families have also taken advantage of their maids by letting them work very long hours and doing double or triple jobs like taking care of two houses or extended families while some employers are known to “lend” their maids to their relatives when they go on holidays.
Some even make them work in their restaurants, pasar malam stalls and coffee shops.
I own two houses and have raised my two children (changing their diapers etc) and do almost all the housework while my wife cooks, washes and irons the clothes.
True, there are times when we feel greatly pressured, but we reckon that having a maid not only deprives us of our privacy but brings all sorts of problems, too.
The excuse that having maids to do the dirty job will release more quality time for us to spend with our children is not very true.
There are many people who have lots of free time but do not spend time with their families.
The Government should come out with a masterplan to wean Malaysians off our dependence on foreign labour, particularly maids, by establishing more family support policies like having creches in or near offices, encouraging the setting up of housekeeping/cleaning services and creche/day-care centre industries. This will ensure that our money is kept within our shores and families will have more money to spend.
By proposing a hefty RM800 a month salary for Indonesian maids, they are effectively pricing themselves out of the market.
In a way it is good as this will compel every household to rethink about their real need for a maid.
Have we asked ourselves whether we are too dependent on foreign maids so much so that the hands that rock the cradle of our future generation are not Malaysian women but Indonesian maids!
Although many families may swear that their maids are good, loyal and indispensable, the question is; are we so incapable of doing our own housework or caring for our children that we have to depend on a maid or maids (as some families have three or four domestic workers)?
Many families have also taken advantage of their maids by letting them work very long hours and doing double or triple jobs like taking care of two houses or extended families while some employers are known to “lend” their maids to their relatives when they go on holidays.
Some even make them work in their restaurants, pasar malam stalls and coffee shops.
I own two houses and have raised my two children (changing their diapers etc) and do almost all the housework while my wife cooks, washes and irons the clothes.
True, there are times when we feel greatly pressured, but we reckon that having a maid not only deprives us of our privacy but brings all sorts of problems, too.
The excuse that having maids to do the dirty job will release more quality time for us to spend with our children is not very true.
There are many people who have lots of free time but do not spend time with their families.
The Government should come out with a masterplan to wean Malaysians off our dependence on foreign labour, particularly maids, by establishing more family support policies like having creches in or near offices, encouraging the setting up of housekeeping/cleaning services and creche/day-care centre industries. This will ensure that our money is kept within our shores and families will have more money to spend.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Demand for RM800 maid salary not feasible, say groups
PETALING JAYA: Indonesia’s demand that its maids be paid a minimum RM800 monthly salary has hit a raw nerve among Malaysians.
“Not all of us are getting a four-figure pay packet . Wait for us to progress, then such a request can be deemed feasible,’’ Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Kedah chapter chairman Pishol Ishak said.
He said many Matta members could not afford to pay RM800 monthly to their general workers, what more a similar sum for foreign maids.
Calling for rationalization, he said: “As much as we value the role played by maids, particularly from Indonesia, the salary expectation must be in tandem with the earning power of Malaysians too.”
Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Da’i Bachtiar has been quoted in press reports as saying that the republic is pressing for the minimum wage following cases of maid abuse by Malaysian employers.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam is expected to comment on the issue today.
It is estimated that 294,115 Indonesian maids are working throughout the country currently.
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers northern region chairman, Datuk O.K. Lee, said manufacturers would be worried if the Government agreed to such a minimum wage as some local workers earned less than that.
‘‘It would cause anger among the workers. We have to find a balance. Such a move is not advisable at this juncture due to the (global economic slump),’’ Lee said.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun asked whether employers could still afford to hire Indonesian maids if they had to pay that sum.
“Also, will the increase in pay lead to better service from the maids ???”
Chew suggested that households opt for other alternatives like engaging local or part-time maids to only work on certain days.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said there should not be a dependency on foreign labour, including that of maids.In a press statement, she suggested that the private sector, NGOs and individuals provide assistance in building more childcare and daycare centres to help families care for their children.
Insurance planning manager Looi Kok Cheong, who has had a maid for 15 years, said:
“It (RM800) will be a big jump from what we are paying now. It will be better if this increase is done gradually and not in one go.”
Letters:
Maids’ salary rising but quality dropping
Earlier Stories:
Indonesia is asking RM800 wage for maids
Indonesian maids get a rest day a week
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Terlalu mahal dan tidak setanding – PAPA
KUALA LUMPUR 5 Sept. – Cadangan gaji minimum RM800 untuk pembantu rumah Indonesia terlalu mahal dan tidak setanding dengan kualiti perkhidmatan yang diberikan.
Presiden Persatuan Agensi Pembantu Rumah Asing Malaysia (PAPA), Zulkepley Dahalan berkata, ia juga hanya akan membebankan majikan.
Sehubungan itu, beliau mencadangkan supaya gaji pembantu rumah tersebut ditetapkan mengikut pasaran semasa.
“Keadaan kita berbeza dengan negara-negara lain. Mereka sudah diberi cuti satu hari seminggu. Jika diminta bekerja pada hari cuti majikan kena membayar mereka berganda,’’ kata beliau ketika dihubungi Mingguan Malaysia di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata, demikian sebagai mengulas laporan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris tempatan yang menyebut Kerajaan Indonesia minta gaji minimum RM800 sebulan dibayar kepada pembantu-pembantu rumah yang bekerja di Malaysia.
Perkara itu dinyatakan dalam mesyuarat dua hala Malaysia dan Indonesia yang diadakan di Jakarta, Jumaat lalu.
Laporan tersebut memetik berita yang disiarkan dalam portal berita Indonesia Kompas online yang melaporkan Duta Indonesia ke Malaysia, Da’i Bachtiar berkata demikian dalam majlis berbuka puasa bersama 400 pekerja asing Indonesia di pejabat beliau di sini Khamis lalu.
Mengulas lanjut, Zulkepley mengharapkan kadar gaji itu dikaji semula demi kebaikan kedua-dua belah pihak.
Jelas beliau, rata-rata gaji minimum pembantu rumah Indonesia di negara ini ialah RM450 hingga RM600 sebulan.
“PAPA sedang meneliti perkembangan isu itu. Terpulang kepada kerajaan bagaimana mahu menyelesaikan masalah tersebut.
“Isu gaji cuma salah satu isu sahaja. Banyak lagi isu berkaitan dengan pembantu rumah asing di negara ini, contohnya pembantu rumah lari dan sebagainya,’’ kata beliau.
Dalam pada itu, beliau menyarankan supaya diadakan kempen khas supaya majikan tidak mengambil pembantu rumah yang pernah lari daripada majikan mereka yang lain.
Katanya, kempen yang dinamakan ‘Tak Nak Pembantu Rumah Yang Lari’ sangat perlu kerana sudah menjadi masalah yang membebankan banyak pihak sejak kebelakangan ini.
Presiden Persatuan Agensi Pembantu Rumah Asing Malaysia (PAPA), Zulkepley Dahalan berkata, ia juga hanya akan membebankan majikan.
Sehubungan itu, beliau mencadangkan supaya gaji pembantu rumah tersebut ditetapkan mengikut pasaran semasa.
“Keadaan kita berbeza dengan negara-negara lain. Mereka sudah diberi cuti satu hari seminggu. Jika diminta bekerja pada hari cuti majikan kena membayar mereka berganda,’’ kata beliau ketika dihubungi Mingguan Malaysia di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata, demikian sebagai mengulas laporan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris tempatan yang menyebut Kerajaan Indonesia minta gaji minimum RM800 sebulan dibayar kepada pembantu-pembantu rumah yang bekerja di Malaysia.
Perkara itu dinyatakan dalam mesyuarat dua hala Malaysia dan Indonesia yang diadakan di Jakarta, Jumaat lalu.
Laporan tersebut memetik berita yang disiarkan dalam portal berita Indonesia Kompas online yang melaporkan Duta Indonesia ke Malaysia, Da’i Bachtiar berkata demikian dalam majlis berbuka puasa bersama 400 pekerja asing Indonesia di pejabat beliau di sini Khamis lalu.
Mengulas lanjut, Zulkepley mengharapkan kadar gaji itu dikaji semula demi kebaikan kedua-dua belah pihak.
Jelas beliau, rata-rata gaji minimum pembantu rumah Indonesia di negara ini ialah RM450 hingga RM600 sebulan.
“PAPA sedang meneliti perkembangan isu itu. Terpulang kepada kerajaan bagaimana mahu menyelesaikan masalah tersebut.
“Isu gaji cuma salah satu isu sahaja. Banyak lagi isu berkaitan dengan pembantu rumah asing di negara ini, contohnya pembantu rumah lari dan sebagainya,’’ kata beliau.
Dalam pada itu, beliau menyarankan supaya diadakan kempen khas supaya majikan tidak mengambil pembantu rumah yang pernah lari daripada majikan mereka yang lain.
Katanya, kempen yang dinamakan ‘Tak Nak Pembantu Rumah Yang Lari’ sangat perlu kerana sudah menjadi masalah yang membebankan banyak pihak sejak kebelakangan ini.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Indonesian maids in Malaysia to have weekly day off
KUALA LUMPUR — Indonesian maids working in Malaysia will be given one day off a week and be allowed to hold onto their passports, the home ministry said Thursday, in a new deal triggered by a string of abuse case.
Indonesia imposed a ban on sending maids to work here in June, after a 43-year-old Malaysian woman was charged with causing grievous bodily harm by beating her Indonesian maid and scalding her with boiling water.
Malaysia's Home Ministry said in a statement that the new terms were agreed by senior Malaysian and Indonesian officials who met in August.
"The meeting has agreed that Indonesian maids will be allowed to keep their passport when they are working in this country," it said.
Currently, employers typically hold onto maids' passports, to prevent them running away or to exercise control over them.
"The Indonesian maids also will be given one day off a week," it added.
The ministry said the committee thrashing out the new working conditions will hold a fourth meeting in Jakarta this Saturday, which will tackle the hotly debated topic of maids' wages.
The issue of wages has remained unresolved despite talks that have been held intermittently since 2007.
Malaysia -- one of Asia's largest importers of labour -- depends heavily on domestic workers, mainly from Indonesia, but has no laws governing their working conditions.
The government in May announced plans for new laws to protect domestic workers from sexual harassment, non-payment of wages and poor working conditions.
Currently Indonesian maids typically work seven days a week for as little as 400 ringgit (113 dollars).
Indonesia imposed a ban on sending maids to work here in June, after a 43-year-old Malaysian woman was charged with causing grievous bodily harm by beating her Indonesian maid and scalding her with boiling water.
Malaysia's Home Ministry said in a statement that the new terms were agreed by senior Malaysian and Indonesian officials who met in August.
"The meeting has agreed that Indonesian maids will be allowed to keep their passport when they are working in this country," it said.
Currently, employers typically hold onto maids' passports, to prevent them running away or to exercise control over them.
"The Indonesian maids also will be given one day off a week," it added.
The ministry said the committee thrashing out the new working conditions will hold a fourth meeting in Jakarta this Saturday, which will tackle the hotly debated topic of maids' wages.
The issue of wages has remained unresolved despite talks that have been held intermittently since 2007.
Malaysia -- one of Asia's largest importers of labour -- depends heavily on domestic workers, mainly from Indonesia, but has no laws governing their working conditions.
The government in May announced plans for new laws to protect domestic workers from sexual harassment, non-payment of wages and poor working conditions.
Currently Indonesian maids typically work seven days a week for as little as 400 ringgit (113 dollars).
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