Maids Can Use Off Day To Settle Personal Matters - Indonesian Embassy

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- The compulsory one off day every week proposed for foreign maids will give about 300,000 Indonesian maids working in Malaysia an opportunity to settle their personal matters.
Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Tan Sri Prof Drs Da'i Bachtiar SH said a day off every week would also enable the maids to share their problems with the embassy or their fellow countrymen.
"Problems will crop up if employers don't give their maids a break. If the maids were given a day off, they will be able to meet other people.
"In the case of the abused Indonesian maid, Siti Hajar, for example, she was badly treated by her abusive employer for almost three years because she did not have any contact whatsoever with the outside world," he told Bernama at the Indonesian Embassy here Wednesday.
He was commenting on the Malaysian government's proposal to make it compulsory for employers by year end, to give a day off every week for their maids, as announced by the Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam yesterday.
Drs Da'i Bachtiar, however, asked that the matter be further clarified before being implemented.
Meanwhile, he also commended the employers who treated their maids as their own family members because it had created a harmonious environment for the maids to work, even for 24 hours a day.
"If the maids' performance are not up to the employers' expectations, they can always tell the agency or the embassy. Don't just punish or abuse them," he said.
He also applauded Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun's suggestion that a law be drafted to compel maid agencies to meet up with their clients at least twice a year.
"If there was such a meeting, any problems can be detected earlier," he said.
The ambassador also thanked the Malaysian government for willing to cooperate at any time, especially, on issues involving the two countries.

tunku : i think this one day off every week proposed for foreign maids is not a good idea but a very bad idea.we know that they need break too, may be it is best to just give them rest in the house rather than letting them to go out by themselves.they can always go out with their employer to buy something etc. sorry to say but these maids will find boyfriends and will create more problems.it is also bad for security reason, they will give all the info to strangers about their employers belongings etc.they maid can be easily taken away by strangers or any other person to work with them.can the government gives guarantee to the employers that their maid will return to them safely?can the government gives compensation to the employers if they do not return home? if they can't then do not impose this nonsense condition.
the indonesian embassy can send their people to randomly check on these maids or the maid's agency.