MoU On Indonesian Maids Expected To Be Signed In 6 Weeks - Dr Subramaniam

PUTRAJAYA, May 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) towards lifting of the freeze on export of Indonesian maids to Malaysia in about six weeks, said Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.He said the MoU covered issues like rest day, control of passports, wages and fees imposed by maid agencies."Among others, it provides for wages to be negotiated by maid and employer, who gets to hold the maid's passport, rests days and others which have been a bone of contention for the lifting of the freeze," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the National Labour Advisory Council at his ministry here today.On May 18, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had said employers would have to give Indonesian maids one rest day each week besides allowing maids to keep their passports.This was reached through a Letter of Intent (LoI) on the hiring of Indonesian maids that was inked by the two countries following the annual bilateral talks between Najib and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Putrajaya.Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein signed on behalf of Malaysia while Indonesia's Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar signed for the republic.The freeze on the export of maids to Malaysia came into effect in June last year.On the matter of Indonesian maids absconding, Dr Subramaniam said studies were in place to find ways to resolve the problem.On suggestions to bring in foreign workers including maids from other Asean countries, he said the direction for employment of foreign workers would be determined after recommendations by the laboratory set up by the cabinet committee on foreign workers were finalised.He said it had made about 50 suggestions in improving the management of foreign labour so far."We are now seeing into the implementation of those suggestions and that will set the new policies and new directions for the employment of foreign workers in the country," he said.-- BERNAMA