MOU on Indonesian maids to be signed this week

KUALA LUMPUR: The memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the recruitment and placement of Indonesian domestic workers (PDI) between Malaysia and Indonesia will be signed this week in Jakarta, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

The MOU was initially slated to be signed in early February but was postponed due to several issues.

One of them was Indonesia’s demand for a One Channel System (OCS) to be implemented on the hiring of its domestic workers.

The OCS system entails a government-to-government channel on the employment of Indonesian domestic workers to Malaysia.

Once signed, Indonesia is slated to provide 10,000 domestic workers to Malaysia under a pilot project.

On another matter, Saravanan said he had met the US Ambassador to Malaysia to obtain more information on claims of forced labour by local rubber glove manufacturers and palm oil producers.

He said the US agency involved in making such claims was asked to provide evidence to allow authorities here to investigate the matter.

He said the report by the US Customs and Border Protection did not specify on the alleged abuses.

“We are asking for evidence from the United States and the relevant agencies so that we can work together to resolve the issue as it involves the image of our country,” he said.

He added that he will also be attending the International Labour Organisation meeting in Geneva over allegations of forced labour.

Earlier, the CBP had issued a Withhold Release Order on palm oil and related products made wholly or in part with palm oil traceable to Sime Darby Plantation Bhd on Dec 16, 2020.

The US authority alleged that there was “reasonable evidence” to show that the local company had harvested fruits and produced palm oil using forced labour.

Meanwhile, the ministry is investigating allegations that certain individuals are using NGOs to extort companies by accusing them of carrying out forced labour.