More protection for maids

Done deal: Ismail Sabri and Jokowi looking on as Saravanan (seated, left) and Ida Fauziah sign the agreement at Istana Merdeka in Jakarta. — Bernama

JAKARTA: After a six-year lapse, a fresh agreement on the recruitment and protection of Indonesian domestic workers (PDI) is in place between Malaysia and Indonesia.

To protect the welfare of the workers, the new initiatives include contributions through the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and guarantees on salary payments via e-Wages not later than the seventh day of each month.

A weekly rest day and an e-complaint application for workers to lodge complaints online have also been introduced, apart from other welfare benefits stated in the service contract.

Significantly, the MOU also paves the way for the re-entry of Indonesian workers in other sectors allowed by Malaysia.

The much-awaited signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Istana Merdeka here yesterday.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan signed on behalf of Malaysia while Indonesia was represented by its Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah.

Addressing a joint press conference with the Indonesian leader later, Ismail Sabri said the MOU would ensure that all recruitment processes and protection mechanisms on Indonesian domestic workers were implemented in a comprehensive manner by the relevant parties, in accordance with the policies and laws of both countries.

“The single entry channel for PDI into Malaysia was agreed upon by using only the single channel system spelt out in the MOU for screening employers to ensure only those qualified can hire the helpers,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

He said Malaysia had ratified Protocol 29 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as a sign of its commitment at the international level to combat the issue of forced labour, which included giving protection to migrant workers from Indonesia.

Ismail Sabri said the MOU would bring major and lasting benefit to the peoples of Malaysia and Indonesia.

“As a neighbour, Malaysia always appreciates and welcomes the contributions of Indonesian migrant workers to the economic development and lives of Malaysians,” he said.

Ismail Sabri expressed satisfaction with the fact that the MOU had undergone a series of discussions under several prime ministers before this but was only signed during his time.

Malaysia and Indonesia first signed the MOU on the Recruitment and Placement of Indonesian Domestic Workers in 2006, which was amended in 2011 to last until 2016.

The agreement affirmed the right of the workers to hold their passports, communicate with families, be provided with a weekly rest day, and for their monthly wages to be paid into a bank account.

Also provided was a standard employment contract outlining the responsibilities of the employer, worker and recruitment agency.