Legal Action Can Be Taken Against Employers Who Flout Contract

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) - Legal action can be taken against employers who flout the contact signed between employers and foreign housemaids including issues related to Islam. Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said the agreement signed allow the foreign maids especially Muslims to know their right as employees. "The terms include preventing non-Muslim employers from forcing Muslim maids to do chores that are against Islamic teachings," he said when winding up debate on the the ministry's 2012 Supply Bill (committee stage) in parliament on Monday. He said there is no barrier to employers hiring Muslims as maids but they have comply with the terms of the contract. "As far as possible, we want Muslim maids to work at Muslim homes but demand from non-Muslim employers are higher than from Muslims." On another note, Subaramaniam said the ministry is in discussion with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to create a yearly statement for contributors. Socso is in the process of upgrading its ICT system to enable employees to access the status of their contributions. -- BERNAMA Malaysia