Indonesia's labour minister Erman Suparno said that in discussions with Malaysian officials on Monday he made proposals including the introduction of a compulsory day off for maids - who currently often work seven days a week.
He also wants maids to be allowed to retain their passports, instead of giving them to employers, and to have their wages paid into a bank to deter employers from withholding salaries.
'We want severe punishment on employers who abuse their maids,' he told a press conference. The proposals, as well as a bid to introduce a minimum wage, will be discussed further when the two sides meet here formally on July 15. 'We will start discussions on July 15 and hopefully in two weeks we will arrive at a decision,' the minister said.
'We hope that the discussion will solve the problems so we can resume sending the maids,' he said. 'We are optimistic.' Mr Suparno criticised the low wages Indonesian domestic workers receive in Malaysia, often about RM400 (S$165) while their counterparts from the Philippines earn two or three times as much.
He also wants maids to be allowed to retain their passports, instead of giving them to employers, and to have their wages paid into a bank to deter employers from withholding salaries.
'We want severe punishment on employers who abuse their maids,' he told a press conference. The proposals, as well as a bid to introduce a minimum wage, will be discussed further when the two sides meet here formally on July 15. 'We will start discussions on July 15 and hopefully in two weeks we will arrive at a decision,' the minister said.
'We hope that the discussion will solve the problems so we can resume sending the maids,' he said. 'We are optimistic.' Mr Suparno criticised the low wages Indonesian domestic workers receive in Malaysia, often about RM400 (S$165) while their counterparts from the Philippines earn two or three times as much.
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