Condition of Indonesian Women Migrants Still Deplorable in Malaysia

Indonesia, a country with more than 200 million people is still not recovered from the 1997 Asian economic crisis consequent upon which, many people drift abroad in search of a better life particularly women and children.

Not only were they harassed, physically abused or even raped but were also sent home without proper payment or traded from one employer to another.

The owners further curtail their freedom by taking away migrants’ passports.

Figuratively:

1. More than 90 percent of Malaysia’s 240,000 domestic workeres are Indonesian.
2. 17,000 domestic workers left their employers in 2003, and many of these cases have involved some form of abuse.
3. 150,000 Indonesian women are working as maids in Peninsular Malaysia.
4. More than 400,000 Indonesians offically work in Malaysia, not only employed as maids but also as construction workers or shop attendants.

Migrant workers

Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia typically work grueling 16 to 18 hour days, seven days a week, and earn less than US$5 a day.

Many employers hold their domestic worker’s salary until the end of the standard two-year contract.

Most domestic workers are forbidden to leave their workplace and many suffer psychological, physical, and sexual assault by labor agents and employers.

Nongovernmental organizations and the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur have received thousands of complaints from maids about working conditions, wages or abuse in the past few years.

Present scenario:

The international community is not interested because there is true demand for illegal migrants.

However, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho has rebuffed the claims by saying that Malaysia has not received any report from any party regarding the ill treatment of Indonesian migrant workers.

What could be done?

Domestic workers in Malaysia are being abused because government policies in both countries fail to protect them. Thus, certain legislations should be formulated that may legally protect the migrant workers especially women. Regular monitoring of the labor agencies should be done.

Workplace conditions in Malaysia should be checked and special forums should be made where the victims may speak out against violence.

In addition, the domestic workers must get access to health care as well. Efforts should be made that may prevent trafficking into forced labor.

Source:Hindustanis.org