Abuse cases need to be resolved quickly, says Indonesian envoy

Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Hermono said resolving the issue of abuse of domestic workers is crucial to enhancing ties between the two countries.

PETALING JAYA: About 90% of the complaints received by the Indonesian embassy relate to abuse experienced by Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia, says Indonesian ambassador Hermono.

He said the statistic signals a distressing trend that requires an amicable resolution by Malaysian employers and stringent enforcement by authorities.

Unpaid wages count among the most serious complaints lodged with the embassy, with some workers not being paid for up to 19 years.

“(It’s) an alarming instance of exploitation.

“Reports also indicate cases of torture and mistreatment like not being given food, further emphasising the urgent need for intervention.

“Immediate action is needed to address the abuses faced by domestic workers, ensuring a fair and just working environment for all,” he told Bernama after chairing an Indonesian consulate-general meeting in Labuan.

Hermono said resolving the issue is crucial for the welfare of Indonesian workers and also to enhance bilateral ties.

He said the abuse, which affects both registered and unregistered domestic workers, could be primarily due to the absence of a service contract.

He also pointed out that there are a high number of undocumented domestic workers in the country as some employers wanted to evade paying levies and other compulsory fees.

While there are 70,000 registered Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia, the number of unregistered workers is believed to be even higher.

Hermono also highlighted the importance of strict enforcement by local authorities, asserting that stringent measures and deterrent sentences for non-compliant employers are crucial to ensure the welfare of domestic workers.

“It is the employer’s obligation to register their domestic helpers with the relevant authorities. We hope the authorities act promptly on this humanitarian issue,” he said.

He said that following the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of registered Indonesian workers in Malaysia dropped from 1.2 million to 480,000.

The unregistered Indonesian workforce, however, nearly doubled in number during the same period.

He said the decline in registered Indonesian workers is attributed to a considerable number of workers who secured jobs in Indonesia and chose not to return to Malaysia.

Hermono noted that a substantial number of Indonesian workers in Malaysia are employed in the plantation sector, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said that while many Indonesian workers are employed in the construction sector, there has been a decline in numbers due to the boom in Indonesia’s construction industry.