Photo: Bernama
JAKARTA: The Home and Human Resources Ministries will be tasked to look at the implementation of hiring domestic helpers from Indonesia digitally to reduce dependency on agents, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister, who concluded his two-day visit to Indonesia on Monday (Jan 9), said the government was looking at ways to partly do away with the hiring of such employment agents.
"Yes, because of the dependency on the agents. We have to do away with it partly. Why must we go through that process, physical interviews, when you can to a large extent do away with it?
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"However, the cost (to hire) is now exorbitant," he told a press conference here.
Earlier, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation by agreeing to settle several issues, including protecting migrant workers from Indonesia.
Anwar also said the current rate for hiring maids was not consistent despite the government putting a cap at RM15,000.
"Some say RM10,000, some say RM15,000 and some, RM25,000.
"This has to stop.
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"I told the (Indonesian) President, it isn't just the system, but it involves hiring those from other countries as well, like Bangladesh.
"We need to cleanse the system," said Anwar.
Local employers have previously urged the government to find ways for a smoother recruitment process of acquiring workers from the neighbouring country.
Asked if the government would review the terms of the current memorandum of understanding on the placement and protection of Indonesian domestic workers (PDI) in Malaysia, the Prime Minister said he was confident that the matter can be resolved without doing so.
"I am confident that it can be solved, with commitment and political will... I even brought two ministers here with me," he said.
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Anwar was accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
On March 31, Malaysia and Indonesia signed an MOU on the recruitment and protection of Indonesian domestic helpers in Malaysia.
The MOU was aimed at ensuring that all recruitment processes and protection mechanisms for Indonesian domestic helpers are implemented in a comprehensive manner by the relevant parties, in accordance with the policies and laws of both countries.
