PUTRAJAYA: The two associations representing maid agencies should merge to give them a stronger voice when dealing with their Indonesian counterparts which are often strong and aggressive, said Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam.

He said the stronger Indonesian associations had an edge when negotiating with the Malaysian associations.

Mahmood said although the ministry had no intention of meddling in the affairs of the associations, it was also a party with interest in the welfare of foreign maid agencies in Malaysia.

“Bringing all the foreign maid agencies under one umbrella is merely a suggestion that we feel will benefit our agencies,” he said.

The two organisations are the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies and the National Organisation for Foreign Workers Agencies.

Mahmood said having a single body to represent the agencies would also help in the ministry’s aim to form a council to look into all areas involving foreign maids.

The council, he said, would comprise representatives from the relevant government agencies, maid agencies and non-governmental organisations involved in the protection of maids and employers.

Mahmood said the associations were expected to announce whether they would merge during their monthly meeting with the ministry later this month.

Another reason why the ministry wanted the two associations to merge was to make official dealings easier.