Indonesian Domestic Workers Not Salary For 7.5 Years In Malaysia, Indonesian Ambassador Threats To Criminalize Employers

PRT from Indonesia YT with the Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono was furious and threatened to criminalize employers of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia, with trafficking in persons and forced labor, for not paying their salaries for 7.5 years.

The excuse used for not having sex is the absence of a work contract. In addition, the employer said that he had provided shelter and food for YT all this time.

YT's case came to light thanks to reports from the public who saw an Indonesian domestic worker who had not returned home for years and was suspected of not getting a salary. In addition, YT is also not allowed to communicate with other people and only leaves the house to take out the trash.

The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur moved quickly, coordinating with the Selangor Manpower Service to rescue YT from her employer's house in the Shah Alam area, Selangor.

Having stayed overnight at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur after being rescued from her employer's house on February 3 last, YT is now at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur safe house.

To Ambassador Hermono YT, he said that he entered Malaysia at the invitation of his brother to work with the lure of a lucrative salary. Since arriving in Malaysia she has worked as a domestic worker for only one employer.

YT said his employer was an employee of a well-known private bank in Malaysia. While working, YT never received a salary and was not allowed to hold a telephone.

Once upon a time he wanted to ask for one month's salary to be sent to his son. Instead of being paid a salary, he was scolded by the female employer. Even though she didn't experience physical violence, the female employer when she was angry, would use abusive words that were harassing.

The Selangor Manpower Office informed the Manpower Attaché that YT's employer had been summoned to resolve his case. However, YT's employer wants to resolve the issue directly with the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Indonesian domestic workers with the initials YT. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur)

In a communication with the Labor Attaché staff, YT's employer denied having hired YT, arguing that there was no employment contract as evidence. Hence, he refused to pay YT's salary. According to him, he only gave him a ride and had fed him while waiting for YT to return to his village. "If YT's employer does not want to be responsible for fulfilling YT's rights, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur will take this case to the realm of trafficking in persons and forced labour," said the Ambassador. Besar Hermono, in a written statement to VOI, Tuesday, February 8.

He further explained that the cases experienced by YT, where employers refused to pay salaries on the grounds that there was no work contract, were quite common, especially for domestic workers.

"This is a classic method to get employers off the hook because law enforcement against rogue employers is very weak. That's why many employers prefer to hire undocumented PMIs," he said angrily.

"This also illustrates the perspective of some employers, if they employ Indonesian domestic workers, especially those who are undocumented, they can treat them as they please, including not paying their salaries. This is no different from modern slavery," he explained.

The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur itself receives reports from PMI for the domestic sector that they have not been paid their salaries for years, are prohibited from communicating, are not being processed for work permits, excessive workloads and physical violence.

"Surprisingly, it is almost unheard of to hear reports of domestic workers from other countries, such as the Philippines, who are being exploited as experienced by Indonesian domestic workers," Ambassador Hermono surprised, adding that there were still quite a few Malaysian employers who were responsible because this should be the case.

Regarding this issue, he asked all relevant agencies in Indonesia, especially the Directorate General of Immigration, BP2MI, POLRI, TNI and Regional Government, to take more stringent prevention of non-procedural PMI departures, because they risk becoming victims of exploitation and abuse or being arrested by Malaysian officials who are currently aggressively carrying out arrest operations against illegal workers.