Two domestic helpers rescued from forced labour

PETALING JAYA: Two domestic helpers have been rescued from forced labour by the Labour Department in an operation, says the Human Resource Ministry.

Its minister V. Sivakumar said there were elements of forced labour which included the victims - an Indonesian and Filipino - being locked up and unable to leave the house.

They were also not allowed to communicate with outsiders while their passports were held by the employers and their salaries were unpaid.

"According to an initial statement, the Indonesian domestic worker was only paid RM400 for the first five years of service and RM650 monthly following the period by the same employer.

"The employer also confessed that the worker was not given any communication tools to interact with their families," he said in a statement on Wednesday (March 15).

The operation came about following a report from the Indonesian embassy after the child of the Indonesian national contacted the envoy.

Both victims have been given an interim protection order while investigations are currently undergoing.

"I urged all employers to be responsible and humane as such cases tarnish the image of the country on the international stage," Sivakumar said.

He emphasised that such incidents also make it difficult for the Human Resources Ministry to discuss with source countries to obtain foreign domestic workers.