Many households rely on domestic workers to balance their busy modern lives, yet these essential members of our homes don’t receive the respect and rights they deserve. Photo: Freepik
The news was heartbreaking: Four years ago, domestic worker Afiyah Daeng Dami, 28, who worked in Penampang, Sabah, was abused and ultimately killed by her employers – a contractor and his ex-wife.
And although the recent sentencing of the couple – each was handed a 34-year prison term – brought some justice, it also forced us to confront a harsh truth: many domestic workers in Malaysia live and work without basic rights and protection.
Afiyah’s story, described in court as a “prolonged campaign of cruelty", wasn’t just a shocking crime. It was a stark reminder of how vulnerable domestic workers can be in Malaysia, where their safety are all too easily overlooked.
Domestic workers are among the most invisible and unprotected segments of the workforce. Photo: FreepikWhile domestic workers are often the “heart of the home” – caring for children, elderly parents and keeping homes running by cooking, cleaning, teaching, repairing and much more – they are among the most invisible and unprotected segments of the workforce as they are excluded from the core protections under Malaysia’s Employment Act 1955.
This means they are not entitled to essential safeguards including regulated working hours, mandatory rest days, sick leave or annual leave – protections accorded to other workers.
This legal gap leaves them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and in tragic cases like Afiyah’s, extreme violence.
Many households rely on domestic workers to balance their busy lives, yet they don’t receive the respect and rights they deserve, says Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) in a recent statement.
WAO commended recent government steps to extend social security coverage, including PERKESO and EPF contributions to domestic workers.
However, the NGO urged stronger legal protection and enforcement to further strengthen these initiatives.
A recent WAO-led Re:Care study revealed that over 40% of domestic workers are afraid to voice their concerns to their employers and more than 42% said complaints they made were simply ignored.
The Indonesian Embassy reported that in 2023, 90% of the complaints they received about Malaysian employers involved domestic worker abuse – stories of withheld pay, violence or even forced labour.
These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent countless women – often mothers themselves – who came to Malaysia in hopes of building a better life, only to find themselves trapped in fear.
Therefore, WAO and other advocacy groups – Tenaganita, Association of Women Lawyers (AWL), Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (Sawo), Persatuan Kebajikan Sokongan Keluarga Selangor & Kuala Lumpur (Family Frontiers), Women’s Centre for Change Penang (WCC), Justice For Sisters (JFS), Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower), All Women’s Action Society (Awam), Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) and Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (Aida) – are calling for these steps to be taken:
> To integrate International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 into the Employment Act 1955 to ensure domestic workers are entitled to the same rights as other employees, including one rest day per week and enforceable minimum wages.
> To strengthen monitoring and enforcement, including regular home inspections and interviews with domestic workers that could be implemented to detect abuse.
> To increase accountability for employers and recruitment agencies who should be required to undergo mandatory training covering domestic workers’ rights, ethical employment practices and grievance mechanisms.
From childcare to house chores, domestic workers help keep homes running, especially if both parents are working. Photo: Freepik
“If we don’t act now, we risk having more domestic workers like Afiyah suffering in silence. And that’s something none of us should accept.
"Together, we can build a Malaysia where every worker is treated with respect,” said WAO.
The way we converse about domestic workers also shapes how we treat them, the statement said.
“Using respectful language is the first step to changing mindsets. The outdated use of the term ‘maid’ or ‘servant’ continues to harm domestic workers by reducing their identities to demeaning labels, often resulting in discrimination. They deserve to be recognised and protected as workers, not seen as servants,” it said.
“Our attitudes at home also matter. A kind word, fair working hours, proper meals and respect, cost nothing, but can mean everything to someone who has left their own family to work in ours.”
Afiyah’s case isn’t just a tragedy; it must also be a turning point, the statement said.
“As Malaysians, we pride ourselves on being warm and hospitable, but true hospitality starts at home – with the people who care for our loved ones and keep our households running,” concluded WAO.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, reach out for help. Call the WAO hotline at 03-30008858, SMS/WhatsApp Tina at 018-988 8058 or contact Talian Kasih at 15999.
