Under MCO, domestic workers suffer in silence

The movement control order (MCO) mandated that most Malaysians stay at home but for domestic helpers, it means never leaving their workplace.

A straw poll of several domestic helpers revealed that all of them are being put to work by their employers who are flouting the law which allows one rest day per week.

One such worker is Umy (not her real name) from Jawa, Indonesia who has been with her employer for 10 years.

Although she described her employer as "kind" and "good", Umy said the MCO meant that she can't go out on Sundays and she has been put to work without extra pay over the past few weeks.

Umy said it had always been the practice that she be allowed free time if she did not leave the house on Sundays.

"We don't have any rest day this month. If we work as usual on rest days, shouldn't it be considered extra work?

"I just hope that I will be able to rest this coming Sunday," she said.

Increased workload

According to Umy, she worked 14 hours a day and typically would meet her friends on Sundays.

"Normally we will go to a school nearby to attend free courses. They teach English, computer literacy and handicraft, among others," she said.

Umy said her workload has increased during the MCO period because her employers do not dine out anymore.

"Normally, I cook two or three times a week, but the employer is worried about going out.

"So now I have to cook every day - at least two meals a day," she said.

Umy said a friend, also a domestic worker, was forced to do extra work because her paranoid employers wanted the house cleaned constantly.

"Schools are suspended, the kids stay at home, so we need to take care of them, too.

"We have more workload because of the Covid-19 virus, but our pay remains the same."

Rest days are not meant for work

Manager of migrant rights group Serantau Malaysia Emma Wati told Malaysiakini, Umy's case was not unique.

"Domestic workers supposed to have one rest day per week, but due to the Covid-19 outbreak... they are prohibited from going out.

"But when they stay at home during their rest day, the employer will ask them to work as usual," she said.

She said workers have reported more housework to deal with and they are unhappy with the situation.

"If you fear that they go out and get infected, then let them stay at home on their rest day, but not increase their workload," said Emma.

Emma said that 75 percent of their members are female, working as domestic workers.

"Live-out" workers losing jobs

Another category of domestic helper which Serantau Malaysia are concerned about is the "live-out" workers.

They do the same work as Umy, albeit only between 9am to 5pm, and have to make their own arrangements for accommodation.

Such workers serve only one household and are unable to travel to work under the MCO. 

Melati, a live-out domestic worker, recently lost her job.

Melati said apart from paying for food and rent, her loss of income has a tremendous impact on her four dependants back in Indonesia.

"Who can we complain to? The government doesn't care about us, they don't acknowledge our existence, but we are workers too. We live here and we contributed to Malaysia's economy.

"The rich don't know we are starving... I am more afraid of starving than the virus itself," a sobbing Melati told Malaysiakini.

Suicidal thoughts

Melati said that employers are afraid to come in contact with people like her because they are worried about them contracting the Covid-19 virus.

"Even among your own family members, you will worry about whom they have met and whether there is a possibility of them getting you infected.

"There is no trust in this situation, everyone looks out for themselves," she lamented.

Melati said some of her live-out domestic helper friends are in a similar situation and yearn to be with their families in Indonesia.

"I eat instant noodles and bread every day... if I go home and stay with my family, at least I don't have to worry about food."

She claimed that some live-out domestic workers are extremely depressed after losing their jobs and some are starving.

"If we can hang out with friends, maybe we will be happier. But because of the pandemic, we can't meet, we need to stay away from one another," she said.

According to the Human Resource Ministry FAQ, during the MCO, all workers should be paid their full salaries. - Mkini