One Maid, One Task Not Logical - PAPA

BY NORSHAZLINA NORAZMAN KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- Indonesia's decision for its maids to carry out only one of four tasks they will be trained in, which are cooking, babysitting, taking care of the elderly and housekeeping for a minimum salary of RM700 has been described as illogical. Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) acting president Jeffrey Foo said the move will not benefit but instead burden Malaysian employers. "If they plan to go through with the decision, I openly disagree as it is clearly irrelevant...employers would need to have four maids for four different tasks. "I welcome the RM700 minimum salary, but if the salary only covers one task then it is a big mistake and does not make sense," he said when contacted by Bernama here Friday. He was commenting on a report from Jakarta which quoted its Labour Placement Development director-general Dr Reyna Usman as saying that maids sent to Malaysia starting next month will only carry out one specific chore with minimum salary at RM700 a month. Jeffrey said if Indonesia was adamant about the move, then Papa wouldn't mind sending back maids from Indonesia and hire those from other countries. "It's better to employ maids from other countries who are ready to carry out all tasks for a reasonable price...other maids can do all for one salary so why can't those from Indonesia?," he said. Meanwhile, Malaysian Maid Employers Association (Mama) president Engku Fauzi Engku Muhsein, when contacted, said employers should not have to bear the costs of accommodation, clothing and food for their maids if the hired help was being paid RM700 each month. "RM700 for a maid is already a burden, what more to employ more than one maid. If they want to be paid RM700 then the maids should be competent and pay for their own accommodation, food and clothing like other foreign workers," he added. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Assocations (Fomca) president N. Marimuthu said the government must look at sourcing maids from other countries apart from Indonesia. "We hope the government does not cater to their request which I feel is over the top. "Don't depend on one source for maids as they can be sourced from countries such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, India and Sri Lanka," he said when contacted. He added that it was unfair for Indonesia to make such a decision based on one or two abuse cases reported in the past. -- BERNAMA