THE reactivation of the Home Managers Programme is a concrete step towards solving problems in the domestic help sector that has long been criticised for its shortcomings. Horror stories of errant or abusive maids, as well as ill treatment of domestics by their bosses, have made their rounds. But these have also taken on the status of urban myth which thrive on prejudice, fear and ignorance on the permissible limit for relationships between employers and employees. The Home Managers Programme, under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, hopes to change the negativity of the sector. It hopes to achieve two objectives at the same time — firstly, encouraging more women to rejoin the workforce and, secondly, helping Malaysian households to acquire qualified housekeepers. The scheme was first introduced in 2008 to overcome the unpredictability of the availability of foreign domestics but it was discontinued in 2011 due to poor response.
There is merit in the intention to encourage women, who had to quit their jobs for a variety of reasons, to work again. And, this measure would help women from the low-income group, especially single mothers, to make ends meet during these uncertain times. They will be more than just maids. Indeed, the word “maid” is a misnomer, suggesting that they are lowly-paid female domestic servants who work long hours, handling the most arduous tasks and often kept out of sight when visitors arrive. The designation “home manager” or “housekeeper” is more appropriate seeing that they will have to undergo courses in home management, meal preparation, looking after children and the handicapped, as well as healthcare to qualify for the job. Hopefully, the rebranding will challenge popular perceptions of women who seek this type of employment. Note that they are not invisible members of society; they exist and they have rights.
There are currently 165 home managers throughout Malaysia. The ministry hopes to have at least 20 of them in each state and 350 nationwide by the end of the year. They will have the freedom to determine their own set-up and fees for services they offer. It does not sound like a bad deal at all. In fact, a home manager in Terengganu says her job as a housekeeper has brought her perks that she never thought possible and friends who had earlier criticised her decision to start a career in housekeeping are now showing interest in this line of work.
Equally important, the home managers project will also benefit working parents who will now feel confident leaving their offspring and senior members of their families in competent hands who speak the same language and share similar cultural sensitivities. Parents who work full time cannot be with their loved ones always and many have to depend on helpers to take care of their children and, in some cases, elderly parents. The scheme should help ease things a little for these households. The shortage of domestics compels us to make this plan work and sound practices, including good wages, can help attract capable people to apply for the job. After all, it affects the quality of life in the most intimate area of our existence — home.