Bosses stressed out, maids suffer

Civil rights movements say that work-related stress and family problems are the main reasons why employers bash up their maids.

PETALING JAYA: Several civil rights movements said that lifestyle stress was contributing to the increasing number of maid abuse cases in the country.

Tenaganita said that a lot of Malaysians, especially those in the middle class and above, who are generally the main employers of domestic workers, are suffering from work-related stress and family problems.

“And they take out their stress on their maids,” said its programme director Aegile Fernandez.

On Sunday, 26-year-old domestic worker Isti Romaiyah died at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. The deceased was suspected to have been abused by her employers.

Yesterday, Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam vowed to get to the bottom of the matter by appointing a joint task force comprising officers from his own ministry, foreign ministry, home ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Fernandez said that at times domestic workers end up being the “punching bag” whenever their employers had problems with their spouses.

“And many of the wives become abusive to their helpers fearing the latter may steal their husbands. That’s why you see some women employers demand the maids cut their hair short and wear worn-out clothes,” she said.

Breeding ground

Making matters worse, Fernandez said, the household then becomes a “breeding ground” for future abusers. The children might follow the abusive ways of their parents.

“It’s sad that when the children watch their parents beat up their domestic workers, they think it is a right thing to do and they start doing the same to them,” said Fernandez.

Migrant and Workers Northern Network (JUMP) coalition member, Joachim Xavier, concurred with Fernandez that Malaysians were generally stressed due to stiff competition in the work field, resulting in more abuse cases.

“It is also contributing to the increasing number of child abuse and domestic violence cases,” said Xavier.

As most Asian nations fall under the category of developing economies, Xavier said people spent little time in considering about anyone else but themselves.

However, he said, work stress alone could not be considered as a contributor to the soaring numbers of abuse cases involving domestic workers.

“Japanese people suffer from a lot of stress but the number of domestic helpers being abused there is lower,” said Xavier.

Fat pay cheque

On why educated people were the majority of the perpetrators, Xavier said that being educated academically alone did not reflect one’s understanding of civil rights.

“Our education system is catered for career purpose. It’s all about getting a fat pay cheque at the end day, which is very self-centred.

“Besides, our education system does not place emphasis on human rights. Even the Moral Education classes stay away from civil rights issue,” said Xavier.

And that was why, he added, Malaysians had problems giving one-day off to their maids.

“The excuse they give is that the domestic workers is at home all the time, so why bother giving them a day off,” said Xavier.

However, he believed that the lack of legislative protection was the main reason that left these workers vulnerable to abuse.

Through his own experience dealing with such cases, an employer would normally terminate the services of a domestic worker if the latter lodged a police report against the employer.

“And by terminating them, the worker has to leave Malaysia,” said Xavier.

He said that the Immigration Department is normally reluctant to issue a special pass to the domestic helper to allow them to stay in the country, even if there was an on-going trial.

“Even if they do get the special pass, they will not be allowed to work. Plus, they have to renew their passes on a monthly basis for a fee of RM100. How are they to pay the fee if they can’t work?” asked Xavier.