Discussion: Hermono (centre) with other attendees at the business meeting between Pusma and APJATI on the protection and placement of Indonesian domestic workers in Kuala Lumpur. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Action will be taken against freelance agents who advertise the recruitment of Indonesian domestic workers on social media, says Indonesia’s envoy here.
Ambassador Hermono said the act of marketing domestic workers on such platforms carries the elements of human trafficking, forced labour and false information.
He said the embassy had sought the help of the Malaysian government to put a stop to what he described as illegal online recruitment.
“We have sent formal communication to the Malaysian government, asking the authorities to take the necessary measures to prevent this kind of advertisement,” he said after attending a business meeting between the National Human Resources Association of Malaysia (Pusma) and the Indonesian Manpower Services Association (APJATI) on the protection and placement of Indonesian domestic workers here.In June, The Star reported that dozens of employment agencies used social media platforms to advertise the direct recruitment of Indonesian domestic helpers.
There were also Indonesians advertising themselves on Facebook as maids, seeking employment in Malaysia.
It was reported that some desperate employers had to pay as much as RM28,000 to hire a domestic worker from Indonesia.
However, a bilateral agreement on hiring and protecting Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia that was signed in April caps the recruitment fee at RM15,000.
In another development, Hermono said the system dedicated to recruiting Indonesian domestic workers was expected to be fully implemented next month.
“There are still some technical issues that need to be fixed. We are now taking temporary measures by processing job orders for domestic workers using a manual system,” he added.
The implementation of the One Channel System (OCS), as demanded by Indonesia, remained unresolved, with Malaysian Immigration previously insisting on using its own Maid Online System (SMO) as the recruitment channel.
On July 20, after the Joint-Working Group meeting held between Indonesia and Malaysia, both governments in principle agreed to integrate OCS and SMO.
APJATI chairman Ayub Basalamah said Malaysia remained the ideal working destination for Indonesian migrant workers.
“Over 40,000 Indonesian domestic workers are expected to arrive in Malaysia,” he said, adding that Malaysia has not become a less preferred destination among Indonesian migrant workers. Pusma president Zarina Ismail agreed, saying Malaysia was still preferred due to its cultural proximity with Indonesia.
Earlier, Hermono said applications for Indonesian domestic workers here remained the highest at 43,064.
