The Malaysian Insider - Indonesia bans maids from leaving for Malaysia:
Indonesia’s Labour and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar today announced that prospective maids from the country would be banned from leaving for Malaysia until the Indonesian government could assure them of their safety He said the move was being taken in response to the case where an Indonesian maid was allegedly abused by her employer in Penang on September 13.
I fully support the Indonesian Minister's announcement. In fact I suggest that Malaysia completely stop recruiting maids from Indonesia or for that matter, anywhere.
Firstly, many Malaysians cannot handle the responsibilities of being employers of maids. Many are real bastards and bitches. Those found guilty of abusing maids should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Secondly, I don’t want to see the country overrun by foreign workers, like hedonistic Kuwait and many Gulf nations have been. There is a security problem.
If young couples with children both want to work, then they should leave their kids at care centres manned by Malaysians.
Quote: "...many Malaysians cannot handle the responsibilities of being employers of maids. Many are real bastards and bitches."
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed you're quite right.
I've observed many employers treating their workers like slaves - making them work incredibly long hours and carrying out all manner of chores. It's appalling; even machines break down when treated like that.
When people are cavalier about treating those under their sway in a fair and considerate manner then the authorities ought come in with a big stick and set things right.
First, make it compulsory for both employers and the maids to attend a series of lectures where they will be educated on the rights and expectations of each side. Then make them sign a binding agreement clearly delineating the duties and working hours of the maid. Doing this may help reduce maid abuse to some extent.
Ah Chong
Cleanliness next to Godliness is my motto in life and I’m glad that there can be found a house cleaning service that got the same motto wherein I can afford to pay during my payday. I just hope I won't get same experience like yours.
ReplyDeleteHi, KT, Another blogger also commented on this news report, and he suggested setting up training schools to train unemployed Malaysians to work as maids to be employed locally.
ReplyDeleteI found the following comment by one of the readers of his blog and feel it may be worthwhile to re-post it here (after some minor editing):
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Yes, it's a great idea to have training schools for unemployed Malaysians to be trained as maids for local employment! The benefits are obvious and will benefit the country. It's a win-win deal!
First, it will give employment for our own people. Secondly, the money will be earned and spent HERE instead of being remitted to a foreign country which everyone must agree is slowly draining away Malaysia's wealth.
The reason many Malaysians shy away from working as maids is probably because this particular occupation is not regulated and so is open to abuse. It is also true that the work is hard and back-breaking with long hours.
Another reason is because of perception. Many people see this as a lowly, menial job, and that people look down on it and, by extension, those so employed.
However, the above two objections are not major obstacles and can be easily surmounted.
Take the perception of the job as being low-class. It need not be so. Domestic work can be dignified and even command respect. Think of those professional butlers working in hotels or serving with wealthy and powerful families. Ordinary people can be in awe of these butlers who are after all still basically domestic servants!
The other problem of heavy workload and unreasonably long hours can be solved if there's a union, something like a teachers' union or bank employees' union, to oversee the maids' welfare. However, as most maids are usually not highly educated nor have experience in organizing themselves, the authorities can step in to help them out in this respect. Perhaps the government can set up a bureau specifically to look after the interests of maids/domestic workers.
This Bureau should then set down clear guidelines on what a maid's duties are, the number of hours they are allowed to work a day, rest periods, annual holidays, health coverage, a minimum wage threshold, EPF contribution, etc.
Then properly accredited Training Colleges, similar to Hotel & Catering Industry colleges, can be set up to provide professional training to anyone wishing to go into this line of occupation.
I believe that for those with the drive and the patriotic desire to help both the nation and fellow Malaysians, there is good money to be made in starting and running such a training institute. And Malaysia's perennial problem with maids may finally be solved.
It's just a temporary threat.
ReplyDeleteAs though we dont know Indonesia.
Tarik harga only.
Who feeds their citizens, legal and illegal, if not us.
Millions of them have gone on haj, own houses and lands which they can never dream of if they did not work here.
Actually, it's Indonesia's lost, not us.
We can outsourced maids elsewhere like Cambodia or Sri Lanka.
aiyah , just make the old-aged parents & in-laws as maids for their precious children ...kow tim lah !
ReplyDeletemalaysians always like that. like to behave like nobles and keep slaves.
ReplyDelete