Zambry: Cases involving Indonesian domestic workers to be reviewed

 

Malaysia will review exploitation cases of Indonesian domestic workers to ensure that justice is served based on the existing laws in the country, said Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.

“I understand the concerns of the Indonesian authorities regarding the well-being and welfare of the domestic workers in Malaysia,” he said during a joint press conference with his counterpart Retno Marsudi after a bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia today.

Bernama reported Zambry (above) as saying that Malaysia will extend its cooperation to Indonesia to ensure that the employment and protection of domestic help are in accordance with the existing national laws.

The latest prosecution for labour violations, which outcome was viewed disapprovingly by Indonesia was the acquittal of a couple of trafficking charges under Section 12 of the amended Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007/22 (Atipsom) at the Klang Sessions Court on Dec 9.

Radzuan Abu Hadzim and his wife Rosnajihah Ramli were acquitted of trafficking their 60-year-old domestic worker Yati Karyati, who was rescued from the couple’s residence by the Selangor Labour Department in March.

Indonesia’s ambassador to Malaysia Hermono noted his disappointment over the unexpected verdict coming from the Atipsom court itself and announced that he would submit their names to Indonesia’s law minister to impose travel bans on them for exploiting its citizens.

The ambassador had also written to the Attorney-General’s Chambers requesting an appeal over the acquittal of Radzuan and Rosnajihah.

Indonesia’s ambassador to Malaysia Hermono

Radzuan and Rosnajihah are also facing charges under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for employing an undocumented worker as well as Section 14 and Section 66B of the Employment Act 1955/22 in relation to the recovery of unpaid wages of their domestic worker.

Strained bilateral relations

Between January 2021 and April this year, the embassy received 392 domestic workers seeking shelter from abusive employers, most of whom had not received their wages for more than six months.

This figure does not include cases of domestic workers rescued by local authorities.

This year alone, Malaysia’s disappointing commitment to improving the protection of Indonesian workers strained bilateral relations between the two countries.

Both countries inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the recruitment and protection of Indonesian domestic workers in Jakarta on April 1.

However, it has to be noted that it was the lack of commitment that led to Indonesia resorting to the extreme measure of imposing a freeze on workers entering Malaysia for employment on two separate occasions – before and after the MOU.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta today, the foreign minister recorded Malaysia’s appreciation for the contribution of the Indonesian workforce, including domestic workers towards the daily lives of Malaysians as well as to the socio-economic development of Malaysia.

He is currently on a three-day official visit to Indonesia to discuss bilateral issues, investment opportunities in Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara as well as maritime delimitation and land borders between the two countries.

“I want to assure you that Malaysia will work towards a solution in resolving the maritime and land border delimitation,” Zambry said, adding that the development of the archipelago would also lead to improved economic ties.

Bernama reported that his visit also marks a preparation for the official visit of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Jakarta which is expected to be sometime in January 2023.

Zambry took the opportunity to reiterate the prime minister’s stance that "Indonesia remains a true friend and an important neighbour for Malaysia".

Zambry was accompanied by the Chargé d'Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, Adlan Mohd Shaffieq and Wisma Putra’s Southeast Asia Division secretary Roseli Abdul. - Mkini