JAKARTA: Domestic helpers from Indonesia may soon be hired digitally to reduce dependency on agents.The government is looking at ways to do away with agents, at least partly, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Why must we go through that process – physical interviews – when you can, to a large extent, do away with that?” he asked.
Anwar said the Home and Human Resources ministries had been tasked with looking into implementing the new hiring method.
“The cost (of hiring maids) now is exorbitant,” he told a press conference at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Indonesia.
Earlier, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation by settling several issues, including the protection of migrant workers from Indonesia.
Anwar also said the current cost of hiring maids was inconsistent although the government had imposed a cap of RM15,000.
“Some say RM10,000, some say RM15,000 and some RM25,000.
“This has to stop. I told the (Indonesian) president (Joko Widodo) that it isn’t just the system, it involves hiring those from other countries as well like Bangladesh.
“We need to cleanse the system,” said Anwar.
Employers had previously asked the government to find ways to implement a smoother recruitment process.
Asked if the government would review the terms of the current memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the placement and protection of Indonesian domestic workers (PDI) in Malaysia, Anwar said he was confident the matter could be resolved without doing so.
The MOU was signed on March 31 last year.
“I am confident that it can be solved with commitment and political will. I even brought two ministers here with me,” Anwar said.
He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.He also noted that the government was now legalising undocumented migrant workers and that the current terms under the MOU were reasonable.
The MOU aims to ensure that all recruitment processes and protection mechanisms for PDI are implemented in a comprehensive manner, in line with the policies and laws of both countries.
