Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the rate was decided by the
Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and would not be changed.
<p>"We have decided that the maximum service fee should be RM2,500. </p>
<p>"However, my ministry is studying the various implications arising from
this on the industry," he told reporters after the post-Cabinet meeting
yesterday. </p>
<p>Azmi refused to entertain questions on the issue saying he would call for a
specific press conference to announce the outcome of the ministry’s ongoing
study. </p>
<p>From next week, employers only need pay RM2,500 as service fees to maid agencies
to secure a maid. </p>
<p>Papa has appealed for a review of the cap, claiming that it was "impossible
to implement." </p>
<p>Its vice-president Jeffrey Foo said the association felt that the ceiling was
unrealistic as local maid agencies would need to pay their Indonesian counterpart
between RM2,300 and RM3,000 just to secure the bio-data of a maid. </p>
<p>The Cabinet Committee also directed that foreign maids must receive their salary
from the first month of employment. </p>
<p>Paying the maids from the first month of their employment would discourage
them from running away, Immigration Department enforcement director Datuk Ishak
Mohamad had said recently. </p>
<p>He said checks carried out by his department showed that RM2,500 was sufficient
to cover the expenses incurred by both the local agency and their counterparts
in the source country.
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