PETALING JAYA: The memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the recruitment and placement of Indonesian domestic workers (PDI) is expected to be signed this month by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments.

       Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said the ministry had submitted the Cabinet-approved core agreements of the MOU to his Indonesian counterpart.

       “The MOU is on track and the Indonesian government has already proposed a date. However, I will not be available at that time due to an overseas work commitment. I have suggested making it earlier or later within this month,” he told The Star yesterday.

       The MOU was initially slated to be signed in early February but was postponed due to certain issues.

       On Indonesia’s demand for a One Channel System (OCS) to be implemented on the hiring of its domestic workers, Saravanan said the ministry would follow the proposal by the Indonesian government.

       The system entails a government-to-government channel on the employment of Indonesian domestic workers to Malaysia.

       Indonesian Ambassador Hermono said the OCS has been principally agreed by both governments.

       “Direct hiring for domestic workers is against our law,” he said when contacted.

       He added that the OCS would be managed by the Indonesian embassy and consular offices in Malaysia.

       Asked whether the MOU would resolve all problems, he said: “It depends on the commitment to fully implement it.”

       The envoy said Jakarta would decide if there was a need to hold a further round of talks on the MOU.

       On issues concerning the welfare of Indonesian workers, Saravanan said his ministry would take the necessary measures to address them.

       “We understand there were cases involving Indonesian workers including maid abuse and not paying their salaries.

       “The ministry assures that action will be taken to resolve these issues,” he added.

       He said as a pilot project, the Indonesian government had initially agreed to provide 10,000 domestic workers to Malaysia.

       “Once the signing of the MOU takes place, we will receive a total of 10,000 domestic workers. Following that, we might increase the number for labour supply to address the shortage,” Saravanan said.

       However, industry players said that the OCS system which was briefed to them, needed further refinement and scrutiny.

       National Association of Human Resources Malaysia (Pusma) president Zarina Ismail said that while she hoped that the MOU could be agreed to quickly, there were concerns pertaining to the proposed OCS structure.

       She said these included the high cost of deposits, quarantine venues and redundant training, among others.

       “We aimed to reach an agreement where we could reduce the cost of recruiting a domestic worker.

       “However, the proposed flow right now is doing the opposite. Based on the proposal, employers will need to fork out more money in terms of paying for the pre-arrival deposit, paying for specific quarantine venues and induction courses in Malaysia,” she said.

       Zarina said previously, employers had the freedom to choose quarantine venues as stipulated by the Health Ministry, but said under the new system, employers would lose the flexibility and would be faced with higher costs.

       As for the induction course, Zarina said there was already an existing training syllabus for the workers without extra costs but the new proposal would require workers to attend a course by the Human Resource Development Corp.