One-channel system to hire Indonesian domestic workers operational despite issues, says ministry

PUTRAJAYA: The one-channel system (OCS) to recruit Indonesian domestic workers is operational although it has been facing issues, says the Human Resources Ministry.

Its deputy secretary-general of operations, Datuk Muhd Khair Razman Mohamed Annuar, said there had been intakes of domestic workers using the system.

"OCS is a system agreed upon by the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia and it is currently in operation," he said at the Human Resources Ministry building here on Wednesday (Dec 21).

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He said there were some issues but they were being resolved.

Muhd Khair said the system would remain under the purview of the Human Resources Ministry and would not be transferred to the Home Affairs Ministry.

The OCS was among the points agreed upon by the two governments on the protection of Indonesian Domestic Workers in April.

Last week, The Star reported that the Indonesian Ambassador had claimed that the implementation of OCS was delayed due to issues faced on the Malaysian side.

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However, the envoy added that around 1,600 employment contracts had been processed by the embassy's internal system, out of which about 600 workers had arrived in the country.

Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar also said that the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department, together with the police, had rescued 12 Indonesians believed to be victims of scams on Dec 15.

"Results of the investigation found that they were promised employment as domestic workers.

"However, they were locked up in a condominium unit belonging to a private recruitment agency in Klang.

"The investigation also noted elements of forced labour and human trafficking by locking people up, restricting their freedom of movement and blocking access to communication," he said.