PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has agreed that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Indonesian Domestic Workers (PDI) be signed immediately on a date jointly decided by Malaysia and Indonesia, says Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

       The Human Resources Minister said he had formally tabled the proposed PDI MoU signing at the Cabinet meeting yesterday.

       According to him, at the Cabinet meeting, it was agreed he and his Indonesian counterpart, Ida Fauziyah, would be signing the MoU.

       “The signing of the PDI MoU will benefit both countries, especially workers who are in need of employment as the Covid-19 pandemic has created an impact on global economy, as well as local employers, who have been facing difficulties in obtaining the services of foreign domestic maids,” he said in a statement.

       The PDI MoU was inked for the first time on May 13, 2006 in Bali.

       Subsequently, the Protocol to Amend the PDI MoU was signed on May 31, 2011 in Bandung, which expired on May 30, 2016.

       Separately, Saravanan said employers found to have ill-treated or taken advantage of their foreign domestic helpers would be blacklisted and not allowed to hire any workers in future.

       He said the ministry would not compromise with any employer for abuses such as not paying their foreign maid’s salary.

       “Although there have been isolated cases of employers ill-treating their domestic helpers, these have, however, tarnished the country’s image and good name like the case reported by a news portal on an Indonesian domestic helper not being paid a salary, even after serving the employer for 12 years.

       “This has also affected the government’s effort at concluding the MoU on hiring domestic helpers from source countries such as Indonesia and Cambodia.

       “Issues like this have also resulted in the MoU with the Indonesian government being not renewed since 2016,” he said.

       According to Bernama, Saravanan also said although foreign domestic helpers were categorised as workers in the informal sector, they had rights as workers and their welfare should be safeguarded.

       “In fact, the job contract for foreign domestic workers also outlines the responsibilities of the employers who hire them,” he said.

       Up to Jan 31 this year, the total number of foreign workers was 1,157,481, with 86,084 of them being domestic helpers and the majority (59,605) being from Indonesia, followed by the Philippines (22,803), Vietnam (1,031), Cambodia (976) and other countries.

       The minister said together with the Home Ministry, they would continue to work closely with the Manpower Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, and Immigration Department in tackling the issues.