Decision On Freeze On Indonesian Maid After Nov 20

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The decision whether Indonesia will withdraw the freeze on the sending of domestic maids to Malaysia will only be known after the third meeting of the working group on Malaysia-Indonesia cooperation on housemaids on Nov 20.Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the third meeting would discuss and decide on the structure cost to bring in Indonesian housemaids to this country."I hope that at the meeting, a decision can be reached on the structure cost that has been recommended with the agreement of both parties and if these issues can be resolved, we hope the freeze on foreign maids will be lifted," he said at a media conference at Parliament House, here Thursday.Earlier, Dr Subramaniam attended a meeting with Indonesian Minister of Manpower and Transmigration A.Muhaimin Iskandar which discussed, among other things, issues on Indonesian workers in this countryThe meeting was chaired by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.Jakarta had issued an order freezing the sending of housemaids to this country on June 25 following numerous complaints of housemaids here being abused by their employers.Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said at the same media conference that a special unit had been formed following the outcome of today's meeting to find the best way of tackling the issue of abuse cases involving housemaids in this country."The special unit comprising representatives from the police and prosecuting officers will report their findings on the abuse cases directly to me."The Indonesian government through the minister responsible (Muhaimin) will also report on their findings and eventually both of us will report to the President (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) and Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak)," he added