Cambodian maids fill Indonesian void

http://news.asiaone.com/

via Khmer NZ

Fri, Aug 20, 2010

The Star/Asia News Network

PETALING JAYA - Cambodian maids are filling the void left by the freeze on Indonesian maids, said Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) president Alwi Bavutty.

He said thousands of Cambodians were being brought into the country every month to cater to the demand for maids.

Prior to the Indonesian maids freeze in June last year, he said there was only between 2,000 and 3,000 Cambodian maids in Malaysia.

This was in comparison to the 4,000 to 5,000 Indonesian maids who were brought in monthly before the freeze, he said adding there were currently more than 200,000 of such maids in the country.

"Agencies used to bring in 400 to 500 Cambodians before, but now some 3,000 come in every month," he told The Star.

He said the agency fees of between RM7,000 and RM8,000 paid by the employer for Cambodian maids was about the same as that for Indonesian maids.

"One plus point for the Cambodians is their discipline record - the problem of them running away from their employers is almost none.

"Maybe it is because they do not know anyone to mix around with," said Alwi, adding that there were maybe one or two isolated cases.

By comparison, Alwi said 20% of Indonesian maids ran away from their employers.

The Cambodians get job training and attend English and Malay language classes in their homeland before they are sent to Malaysia, he said.

However, Alwi said Malaysians preferred Indonesian maids because of the cultural similarities.

He added that Malaysian and Indonesian representatives had met a few times to resolve the freeze, with the next meeting expected on Thursday.

Among the issues being hammered out are the agency fees, minimum wage and a weekly off-day.

Alwi said Indonesian agents would be requested to reduce their fees as it was higher than the fees charged by Malaysian agents.

"They are charging between RM3,000 and RM5,500 in agency fees, up from RM2,000 in 1995. Local agents have to fork out close to RM2,000 for medical tests and levy," he said.

Alwi said Papa preferred wages of maids to follow market forces instead of having a minimum wage, adding that employers should be given the choice to "buy up" the weekly off-day.

"Maybe we can pay them (maids) for the one off-day. It's similar to paying overtime," he said.

Cambodian Embassy Second Secretary Ung Vantha said Cambodia Labour Ministry statistics showed that until June 22 this year, 24,753 Cambodian maids were working in Malaysia.

"We have advised them (the ministry) to improve the quality of workers sent here," he said, adding that the embassy was not involved in the recruitment of Cambodian workers.