Sunday 23 July 2006

“But if the Government has made it a ruling that a contract must be signed, then every employer must abide by the regulation,” said Endang, 40, whose employer gives her a day off every week and pays her a bonus on special occasions. 

Endang said she personally believed that there was no need for a contract between employer and maid as long as both parties were honest and fair with each other. 

“In my case my employer sends home my pay promptly, and I also get a bonus during Hari Raya and Deepavali.” 

“My employer is very fair and takes good care of me,” said Endang who claimed that a bad employer would still abuse his or her maid even if they had signed a contract.  

She was commenting on the Labour Department's directive that new Indonesian maids would be required to sign a contract with their employers. 

On opening a savings account, she said that it was the responsibility of the employer to pay their maids regularly. 

Her employer Dr M. Kumar said that he had no objections to the new government directive of having a contract with the maid. 

“I have told her that I want to open a bank account under her name but she doesn't want to.”  

Another maid, identified only as Maria, 22, from Kepong, said that maids who entered the country prior to June should also be protected. 

“I have a contract with my employer but a standard contract should spell out salary increments and bonuses as well as working hours,” she said.