NGO lauds appeals court decision ordering housewife to serve 10-year jail term for trafficking maid

onlineGAVEL

PETALING JAYA: Tenaganita has come out in support of a Court of Appeal decision to order a housewife to begin serving a 10-year jail term after losing her final appeal against a charge of trafficking an Indonesian woman and exploiting her for forced labour.

In a statement Thursday (Oct 26), the non-governmental organisation expressed it satisfaction over the decision in the case of housewife Zaimatulhakma Abdul Hamid, who was found guilty of trafficking and abusing Supiyah, an Indonesian domestic worker, over an extended period.

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"We commend the Court of Appeal for acknowledging the severity of this crime, which was appropriately described as modern-day slavery by the presiding Judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail," Tenaganita said in its statement.

The NGO also called on government agencies and departments to intensify efforts to safeguard the rights of domestic workers and provide protection against exploitation and abuse.

The full text of the statement can be read below:

No more impunity - A sentence meted out by the Court of Appeal

Tenaganita supports and expresses tremendous satisfaction over the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Zaimatulhakma Abdul Hamid, who was found guilty of trafficking and abusing Supiyah, an Indonesian domestic worker, over an extended period.

We applaud the Judge’s clear apprehension that led to the ruling, which upheld the conviction and sentencing of Zaimatulhakma, underscores the critical need to bolster efforts in combating all forms of modern-day slavery.

This case highlights the distressing prevalence of domestic workers abuse and exploitation, which regrettably continues to persist in our society.

We commend the Court of Appeal for acknowledging the severity of this crime, which was appropriately described as modern-day slavery by the presiding Judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail.

The court's unwavering stance against such reprehensible violations is indispensable in ensuring that justice is served for Supiyah.

Tenaganita stands in unwavering solidarity with Supiyah and other domestic workers, who have endured similar harrowing experiences.

We firmly believe in the fundamental principle that every individual, irrespective of their background, is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.

The decision to prosecute and penalise individuals who perpetrate such egregious acts is a pivotal step in upholding the rights and well-being of all individuals, particularly those in vulnerable positions.

However, we must highlight that the compensation of RM50,000 is not reflective of the amount of work and torment of abuse Supiyah had faced in the span of 10 years.

We urgently implore the relevant government agencies and departments to intensify their efforts in safeguarding the rights of domestic workers and providing them with robust protection against exploitation and abuse by amending the First Schedule of the Employment Act 1955 to remove explicit discrimination against domestic workers.

However, for a long-term solution, we call on the Malaysian government to enact a separate legislation and regulatory mechanisms for comprehensive protection of domestic workers through a standard contract recognising the core rights enshrined in the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers.

We as a nation can only be recognised as a people with humanity when we shift our paradigm to recognising the human person and woman in domestic work.

It is only when we accord them these basic rights can we reduce all forms of gender-based violence in our homes and in our society.

TENAGANITA