via CAAI
By PAUL GABRIEL
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians looking towards Cambodia to resolve their domestic worker problems have to turn elsewhere.
This is because many Cambodian maids prefer to leave at the end of their contracts here for a variety of reasons, which include abuse by employers and inability to settle down.
Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia Princess Norodom Arunrasmy said it was also “too much” to expect her nationals to fill the vacuum caused by Indonesia’s freeze on sending domestic workers here.
Special fare: Princess Arunrasmy hosting a luncheon for some of the abused Cambodian maids at her embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
“I often speak to Cambodian maids on my flights back to Phnom Penh and am told they are not renewing their contracts due to various reasons. Some are even sent home by their employers,’’ she said in an interview.
There are an estimated 20,000 Cambodians working as domestic workers here, the bulk of them recruited following a dispute with Indonesia which froze recruitment of its domestic workers after several high-profile abuse scandals.
The Star reported earlier this week that about 35,000 families were in desperate need of maids with the average waiting time now stretching to over seven months.
The Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) stated that on the average, 7,000 maids were needed per month to replace those who went home after their contracts expired.
Princess Arunrasmy said the embassy was also tightening protection mechanisms for its domestic workers here by requiring employers to bring the maids along when renewing their passports.
“Before, the maids didnt have to tag along but now we want to see them to make sure all is well. I also personally sign all the necessary documents to keep on top of things,’’ she said.
In cases of alleged abuse and other disputes, the envoy said the maid, employer and agent involved were called in for consultation.
Princess Arunrasmy said she would meet a Cambodian delegation comprising Labour Ministry and agency officials who were due here on a fact-finding mission.
“I often speak to Cambodian maids on my flights back to Phnom Penh and am told they are not renewing their contracts due to various reasons. Some are even sent home by their employers,’’ she said in an interview.
There are an estimated 20,000 Cambodians working as domestic workers here, the bulk of them recruited following a dispute with Indonesia which froze recruitment of its domestic workers after several high-profile abuse scandals.
The Star reported earlier this week that about 35,000 families were in desperate need of maids with the average waiting time now stretching to over seven months.
The Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) stated that on the average, 7,000 maids were needed per month to replace those who went home after their contracts expired.
Princess Arunrasmy said the embassy was also tightening protection mechanisms for its domestic workers here by requiring employers to bring the maids along when renewing their passports.
“Before, the maids didnt have to tag along but now we want to see them to make sure all is well. I also personally sign all the necessary documents to keep on top of things,’’ she said.
In cases of alleged abuse and other disputes, the envoy said the maid, employer and agent involved were called in for consultation.
Princess Arunrasmy said she would meet a Cambodian delegation comprising Labour Ministry and agency officials who were due here on a fact-finding mission.
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