Indon maid ban issue likely to be resolved in Jan

By NIK NAIZI HUSIN

MUADZAM SHAH: The banning of the Indonesian maids to work here would likely be settled by January next year following the fourth meeting to be held between both governments in Jakarta.

Human Resource deputy Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said the meeting was expected to discuss and finalise certain issues including the salaries and structure of the cost to bring them here, which were borne by the employers here.

Maznah said the Government had also submitted the training programme modules for the maids agencies to follow to equip the maids with the mental and practical aspects of their work here as there were reports that some of them did not understand the scope of their jobs.

Further, few of the maids were aware of the differences in Malaysian culture and theirs.

“By providing training to them, they would have a better knowledge of our culture and they can perform better,” Maznah said after officiating the Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten)'s green earth programme, in its campus, here Friday.

Maznah said many employers said they paid fees to agents but received maids who were unable to perform well due to their lack of knowledge, skills, and understanding of the local culture.

In June this year, the Indonesia Government froze the export of maids to Malaysia after reports of maid abuse.

On Sept 2, both Governments agreed to that Indonesian maids be given a day off in a week and allowed to keep their passports with them while staying in this country.