KUALA LUMPUR: The government is considering making employers deposit the salary of foreign maids directly into their bank accounts, replacing the current cash payment system.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the e-wallet system had been discussed in-depth by Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry with the foreign missions concerned.
“We have had detailed discussions with the foreign missions on the need for all registered employers to use the same method of payment.
“I believe we have to migrate from the conventional method as we progress towards becoming a developed nation. We should never allow anything bad to befall the (migrant) workers,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, was replying to a question from M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) who wanted to know whether the government would introduce a certain mechanism to ensure that salary and allowances of domestic maids were paid monthly.
Earlier, Zahid said employers must treat foreign maids humanely and with respect as it reflects Malaysia’s international image.
He said any inhumane act by employers against foreign maids would not only be morally unacceptable but also gave a bad image for the country.
Making reference to last month’s Penang court case involving the alleged murder of Indonesian maid Adelina Lisao, Zahid said that the court action should serve as a lesson to members of the public.
“What was allegedly done by the against the victim is regrettable and most hateful,” he said.
“Every foreign workers in Malaysia has human rights. What happened to Adelina cannot be defended.
“The accused has been charged and this has elicited positive reaction from the Indonesian Human Resources Minister,” he said, adding it was hoped the Indonesian government would understand Malaysia’s stance.
He was replying a question by Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (BN-Tanah Merah), who had asked on steps taken by the government to safeguard maids in Malaysia.
Zahid, who is Home Minister, also reminded employers of foreign maids to abide by the law when bringing maids into Malaysia.
He said this was especially so when the government had taken steps to make the hiring of foreign maids easier and cheaper via online.
“The government has provided the assistance, please use it rather than resorting to other means (such as smuggling the maids in),” he said.
Report by Syed Umar Ariff, Nazura Ngah, Hidir Reduan, Fairul Asmaini Mohd Pilus, Veena Babulal, Luqman Arif Abdul Karim and Ahmad Suhael Adnan.