FMT:
Indonesian consulate-general rescues maid exploited for 17 years
Indonesian maid Marlia arrived in Bintulu, Sarawak, in 2004, was not paid her salary, or allowed to contact her family.
Marlia with the Indonesian consul-general in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono (right) and minister counsellor and head of chancery Budimansyah. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: A 32-year-old Indonesian maid was rescued by the Indonesian consulate-general in Kuching after she was allegedly exploited and not paid her salary for 17 years by her employer in Bintulu.
The Indonesian consul-general in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, said his office received information from a community leader at Desa Semanga in the Sambas district of West Kalimantan about the maid’s plight.
He said the man had conveyed a request from one of his people, Wirdan, to look for his daughter, Marlia, who had gone to Sarawak in 2004 and had not been heard of since.
The consulate found that Marlia had entered Malaysia that year and was told by her agent that she would be working in a restaurant.
She first worked in a coffee shop in Bintulu for about a year before moving to work as a housemaid in her employer’s house. Following this, she was sent to work in the house of her employer’s in-laws.
According to Wirdan, Marlia managed to escape with the help of her employer’s daughter, who she had looked after since she was four years old.
The employer’s daughter told the consulate that Marlia had been working in her house since 2006.
Raden suspects that Marlia could have been exploited as she was not allowed to contact her family, did not receive pay, and had restricted access outside the house.
“The protection team from the consulate in Kuching also tried to clarify the matter with her employer but they were uncooperative.
“This prompted the team to lodge a report with the Bintulu police and the labour department in Bintulu,” he was quoted by The Borneo Post as saying.
After discussions with the police and the labour department, the employer admitted her mistake and agreed to settle Marlia’s unpaid salary.
Marlia has been brought to a temporary shelter in Kuching.
PETALING JAYA: A 32-year-old Indonesian maid was rescued by the Indonesian consulate-general in Kuching after she was allegedly exploited and not paid her salary for 17 years by her employer in Bintulu.
The Indonesian consul-general in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, said his office received information from a community leader at Desa Semanga in the Sambas district of West Kalimantan about the maid’s plight.
He said the man had conveyed a request from one of his people, Wirdan, to look for his daughter, Marlia, who had gone to Sarawak in 2004 and had not been heard of since.
The consulate found that Marlia had entered Malaysia that year and was told by her agent that she would be working in a restaurant.
She first worked in a coffee shop in Bintulu for about a year before moving to work as a housemaid in her employer’s house. Following this, she was sent to work in the house of her employer’s in-laws.
According to Wirdan, Marlia managed to escape with the help of her employer’s daughter, who she had looked after since she was four years old.
The employer’s daughter told the consulate that Marlia had been working in her house since 2006.
Raden suspects that Marlia could have been exploited as she was not allowed to contact her family, did not receive pay, and had restricted access outside the house.
“The protection team from the consulate in Kuching also tried to clarify the matter with her employer but they were uncooperative.
“This prompted the team to lodge a report with the Bintulu police and the labour department in Bintulu,” he was quoted by The Borneo Post as saying.
After discussions with the police and the labour department, the employer admitted her mistake and agreed to settle Marlia’s unpaid salary.
Marlia has been brought to a temporary shelter in Kuching.
Surely the employer should face some police action.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe just an admission of a mistake and payment for unpaid salary will close the case.
The Indonesian government should demand stronger action against the employer.