Domestic workers continue to be abused until tougher laws can protect them

A display used in "Domestic Workers, Not Slaves"public awareness campaign, organised by advertising agency McCann Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with Tenaganita, held in 2012 at a mall in Kuala Lumpur. Photos: Filepics

They are the first ones to wake up in the household and often, the last to go to bed. In between, they slave it out – cooking, cleaning, taking care of children and the elderly, grooming and walking pets, washing cars, gardening and attending to all other needs of the household.

These are the daily tasks of most domestic workers. They work hard and they work long, yet are disqualified from basic protections that workers enjoy: fixed working hours, leave days, medical coverage or even fair wages.