by ALEX ONG
Despite recent government negotiations, Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia remain disempowered
Since June 2009, the Indonesian government has been in serious negotiations with its Malaysian counterpart. They’re taking a long time because the two sides just can’t agree on what rights Indonesian domestic workers should have. Indonesia wants Malaysia to give them basic labour rights. They’ve asked for a day off each week and a minimum salary. They also want to give Indonesian domestic workers the right to keep their own passports. Meanwhile, Malaysia remains adamant that employers should continue to keep migrants’ passports under lock and key until bosses have recouped agent fees from the migrants’ wages.
Inside Indonesia for more