The Malaysian Insight

A MORATORIUM on sending maids to Malaysia is not the best solution to end abuse cases, and instead, a better system is needed to ensure their welfare, said agents for foreign maids.

The Malaysian Association for Foreign Maid Agencies said there should be more stringent vetting of employers, as well as maids, to ensure that only qualified ones were employed.

“We should go back to the drawing board to study the matter and look at a better system to manage their welfare here (in Malaysia),” association president Jeffrey Foo told The Malaysian Insight.

He was responding to a report by Indonesian media that the country was looking into imposing a moratorium on sending its maids to Malaysia following the death of Adelina Lisio in Penang last week, after being allegedly abused by her employers.

Jakarta Post reported that Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana had proposed a halt in the sending of maids to Malaysia, and a restructuring of the employment administration process.

On Sunday, Adelina, who was forced to sleep with her employers’ dog on the porch outside their house, died while receiving treatment at Bukit Mertajam Hospital.

The 26-year-old Indonesian was rescued about 8pm last Saturday after police received a report from an assistant to Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Lim.

Adelina suffered severe injuries to the head and face, and had infected wounds on the hands and legs.

Her death has sparked debate on the need to strengthen protection for migrant workers, and raised questions on whether Indonesians should be sent to work in a country with porous borders used as a region-wide human trafficking route.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he would meet Indonesian Human Resources Minister Hanif Dhakiri on the matter soon, and that the meeting would discuss the safety of Indonesians brought to Malaysia to work as maids.

Foo said there was no denying that a small section of Malaysian employers were “heartless”, but problems relating to maids should be directed to their agents for further consultation and action.

“However, this can only be done if they have gone through the proper, legal channels to employ foreign maids.

“What we have seen are cases of illegal employment, and this always turns out to be problematic because if issues arise between the employer and maid, no third party is around to offer help.”

He said Malaysia had sufficient laws to punish errant employers, and those found guilty of abusing their maids would be punished severely.

“We are strongly against the hiring of foreign maids through channels other than government-licensed recruitment agencies.

“We must not treat agencies as merely profit-making companies. They play a very important role in maintaining a good relationship between employers and maids.

“Without them, the working relationship, following a dispute, can be very difficult to mend, and this can escalate into runaway and abuse cases, and other serious crimes,” he said, adding that a few incidents were enough to tarnish the good image of Malaysian employers in general.

He said the direct hiring of foreign maids must be discouraged, as although the intention behind offering lower prices to Malaysian employers was good, this could be abused by some and hurt Malaysia’s human rights standing.

“Almost 100% of foreign maids have helped their families improve their financial situation and standard of living.

“All supplying countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, have benefited tremendously, and millions of their citizens have gotten valuable working experience and financial gains from working in Malaysia.”

Malaysian Maid Employers Association president Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein said Indonesia was mulling a moratorium as it was seeking to protect its nationals.

“This is an isolated case, and does not represent all employers in Malaysia,” he said, referring to Adelina’s case.

“It’s not an everyday thing, but we understand that it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

He said since Adelina’s case was being investigated by police, it was hoped that Indonesian authorities would reconsider the moratorium plan.

“Also, Malaysians should be good employers when they bring foreign workers into their homes. The employers are representing the country.

“Whatever they do, it’s a national thing and not a personal thing. They are like the nation’s ambassadors.”

He said there must be a system in place to safeguard both employers and maids.

“The rights and welfare of both parties must be properly protected under the law.

“With such an arrangement in place, source countries will be more confident in sending their maids to Malaysia.”

Penang police chief A. Thaiveegan said police believed that Adelina’s case would be resolved soon, following the arrest of three members of a family, aged 36, 39 and 60.

This is not the first time that Indonesia has proposed a moratorium on sending its workers to Malaysia.

In 2011, the republic lifted a two-year moratorium when a memorandum of understanding between both countries was signed.

The MoU expired in 2016, and has not been renewed. – February 17, 2018.