Domestic dependency
AFTER a two-year freeze on Indonesian maids imposed by Jakarta, Malaysians can now look forward to better days with the signing of an agreement to resume the import and hiring of domestic workers later this month. It is hard to say, however, whether the feeling is mutual. In the two years there has not been any protest from the prospective workers themselves. Rather, for most it is a matter of going to other countries -- Saudi Arabia, for example, has been a popular destination. In a nation that is predominantly Muslim, and wealthy to boot, the holy land has an edge despite the distance. Furthermore, an increase in opportunities brought on by economic development is keeping more Indonesians homebound. And the minimum wage of RM600 per month we fought for is not a big plus factor for people seeking to keep often extended families afloat. The bottom line may, therefore, be less qualified recruits although the prospective agreement is said to provide safeguards to employers as well.
There are already complaints of domestic help who are more hindrance than help and yet, many Malaysian households appear to be crippled without the physical presence of a live-in maid, on call 24/7 and employed at low salaries. What feudal mindset tells us this is a need that must be fulfilled only on our own terms? So insistent is the pressure on the government to open the floodgates on the admission of cheap foreign maids that it gives in, often against its better judgment. The hidden costs of an over-reliance on foreign labour has become more apparent over the years -- in health, crime and other expenditures that accrue from a large and often rootless population of aliens. No developed country will tolerate this situation from a social, economic or political perspective.
Of course, our justification is that we are providing jobs. If this is a genuine intention, then terms and conditions ought to reflect an exemplary commitment. Indeed, during its negotiations, the Human Resources Ministry was often caught between local employers' desire for it to drive a hard bargain and its own pledges to promote and protect workers' rights, including those who have journeyed here to make a living. Malaysians ought to bear in mind that the tap will soon run dry as source countries develop and modernise. The time has come for us to shed the feudal mentality of dependence and create a modern care infrastructure for our children and the aged, then put in place a legal framework that will remove all remnants of unfairness that still colours this issue.
Of course, our justification is that we are providing jobs. If this is a genuine intention, then terms and conditions ought to reflect an exemplary commitment. Indeed, during its negotiations, the Human Resources Ministry was often caught between local employers' desire for it to drive a hard bargain and its own pledges to promote and protect workers' rights, including those who have journeyed here to make a living. Malaysians ought to bear in mind that the tap will soon run dry as source countries develop and modernise. The time has come for us to shed the feudal mentality of dependence and create a modern care infrastructure for our children and the aged, then put in place a legal framework that will remove all remnants of unfairness that still colours this issue.
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