On 28th June 2009, Indonesia’s Minister for Labour and Transmigration announced that with immediate effect, Indonesia will halt sending maids to Malaysia until there are discussions on the review of the MOU on the matter.
The minister would do well to take immediate action on the alleged plight of Indonesian maids who accuse their employers of abuse and are awaiting for hearing of their court cases. Two maids say that they have been waiting for over a year in the small house provided by the Indonesian embassy. It has 5 bedrooms and double -decker beds can accommodate 75 women but due to the delay in settling their cases, there are more than a 150 women staying there. They cannot leave the shelter as their work permits have been cancelled. So the abused are suffering another form of abuse!
To return to the subject mentioned last week concerning a compulsory day off for domestic workers, we will examine the reasons of 3 employers who objected to this proposal:
1) “I don’t mean to discriminate but from past stories, we’ve all heard about how maids have gone missing after a week of working. I don’t mind the day off ruling as long as they stay at home. A least I know what they are up to.”
2) “I take my maid to the cinema and shopping. But I will discourage the proposal of a mandatory day off for maids.”
3) “My Indonesian maid of 13 years has never asked for a day off and she seems happy to be working for the family on a full-time basis. Where will they go on their own if they get an off day?”
“Where will they go on their day off?” Is there not an urgent need for a national organisation of social clubs for domestic workers? Anyone from Micah Mandate willing to take up the challenge?
Note: If there is any response to the above challenge of setting up a social club for domestic workers, please contact Peter Young through The Micah Mandate as soon as possible. Thank you.
