Indonesia expected to lift maid ban in two months

PUTRAJAYA: The critical shortage of maids is set to improve in two months when Indonesia allows its citizens to work in the country again.

Indonesia, which imposed a moratorium on the supply of maids to Malaysia in June last year, is expected to lift the freeze once Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the matter.

The long-standing issue is finally nearing a conclusion with the signing yesterday of the Letter of Intent (LoI) on amendments to the MoU on the Recruitment and Placement of Maids from Indonesia between the two governments.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono yesterday after their leaders’ retreat here.

Malaysian and Indonesian officials have been holding marathon meetings to resolve issues in relation to the maids issue.

Malaysian officials confirmed that the MoU would follow the LoI in two months, following which the moratorium would likely be lifted.

Among the issues agreed to in the LoI were that the maids be given one day off weekly and their right to hold on to their passports.

However, the employer and the maid can agree to forego the day off in lieu of compensation.

Officials also confirmed that an employer could hold onto a maid’s passport if both parties agreed.

The Prime Minister also explained that the wage issue was still pending.

“We have different (wage) systems in Indonesia and here, and it complicates matters with respect to wages paid to our workers — it requires more discussions,” Najib said.

Last year, bilateral relations reached a low ebb when Indonesians began demonstrating at the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta and a vigilante group threatened to harm Malaysians over various issues including maid abuse.

Indonesia stopped supplying new maids following several high-profile cases that drew attention to the risks faced by some 230,000 Indonesian maids in Malaysia.

Among the cases that grabbed headlines were that of Nirmala Bonat in 2004 and Muntik Hani in October last year.

Following those cases, Malaysia took steps to check maid abuses including inspections on homes, interviews of maids and employers, and a helpline.

Also in the works is a mandatory dialogue sessions for employers and maids to learn about each other’s rights and responsibilities.

Susilo is here for the seventh annual consultations between Malaysia and Indonesia to discuss bilateral issues to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Susilo is scheduled to speak at the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF)at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre before leaving for Jakarta today.

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