Stop sending domestic helpers pending MOU revision: Agency
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 06/11/2009 3:26 PM
The government will ask all agents to stop sending domestic helpers to Malaysia pending revision of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on protection of migrant workers signed by Indonesia and Malaysia in 2006, Antara news agency reported Thursday.
Chairman of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Overseas Labor (BNP2TKI) Jumhur Hidayat said his office would officially recommend a one-month suspension to Transmigration and Manpower Minister Erman Suparno and Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda.
“This effort is important to accelerate revision of the MOU,” Jumhur said.
Around 2,000 domestic helpers are sent to Malaysia every month.
Jumhur said the government would revise the existing recruitment process, which allows individuals to employ domestic helpers.
“There are many Indonesian domestic helpers working in Malaysia without the help of agents and who have no working contracts. They enter the country using visitor's visa, then employers will arrange permission for them to work there,” he said.
Jumhur said his office would urge all employers to give the domestic helpers one day off a week, and raise their salaries.
Both countries agreed to revise the MOU last year, but no meetings have been arranged to negotiate the changes so far. Indonesia has been pushing for the revision amidst widespread protests against weak protection for domestic helpers working overseas. (ewd)
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