KUALA LUMPUR—The long-drawn Nirmala Bonat’s court case has brought the foreign househelp issue into focus and shows how these 150,000 women have become an integral part of a modern urban Malaysian family.
Many families, especially those with both parents working, have become so dependent on these maids that they cannot do without their assistance.
That is partly why the Indonesian maid Nirmala’s case was followed closely by Malaysians as many can sympathize with her.
Nirmala’s employer, Yim Pek Ha, who was found guilty by the Sessions Court on November 27 on three counts of causing grievous hurt to her after a three-year trial and jailed for 18 years, was an exception rather than a norm.
Human Rights Commissioner N. Siva Subramaniam said the majority of Malaysians were very kind, understanding and tolerant employers.
He said that although there were some minor abuses by a minority of families, most of them treated their domestic helpers as part of the family.
Some employers even take their maids for holidays and provide them the best accommodation and food.
Siva said although some maids worked long hours with restricted freedom, they were compensated with monetary and other benefits.
MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam said maids were entitled to seek legal redress for unpaid wages and for a 14-day termination notice.
A Labor Department spokesman said maids who felt that they had been unfairly treated could seek redress by legal means if they have a written contract.
Filipino maids have legal contracts when they come to Malaysia to work. A similar system is being devised for Indonesian maids.
Balasubramaniam said although the maids could not join any union they could still seek assistance from non-governmental organizations like Tenaganita which could assist and guide them. Bernama-The Star-ANN
