Ambassador: Indonesia Temporarily Stops PMI Sending To Malaysia

Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono in Kuala Lumpur, 10 July 2022/Via ANTARA

JAKARTA - Indonesia has temporarily stopped fulfilling new orders from Malaysia for Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in all sectors.

"It's true and comes into effect today," said Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Hermono

when confirmed about the new policy in Kuala Lumpur, Antara, Wednesday, July 13.

He emphasized that the policy to stop sending PMIs was in effect until there was a commitment from Malaysia to stop recruiting domestic workers through the Maid Online System (SMO). However, orders that have been approved can be continued, he said.

Previously, it was reported that there was activity on social media advertising Indonesian domestic workers by freelance recruitment agencies.

On April 1, 2022, the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Ida Fauziyah signed a memorandum of understanding with the Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia M Saravanan regarding the placement and protection of PMIs in the domestic sector in Malaysia.

This step was taken as an effort to improve the governance of PMI placement and protection in Malaysia, said Minister of Manpower Ida at the time.

In particular, Ida emphasized that through the memorandum of understanding it was agreed that the placement of domestic sector PMIs in Malaysia was through the One Channel System (OCS) as the only legal channel for the recruitment and placement of domestic sector PMIs in Malaysia.

The system will integrate Indonesia's and Malaysia's online systems and there will no longer be direct placements, but must go through Indonesian and Malaysian recruitment agencies registered with the system.

PMI will also only work in one house with a maximum family size of six people. Job descriptions are carried out per position so that Indonesian workers will not do double work.

PMI is also included in Malaysia's employment insurance scheme for foreign workers and health insurance where the premium costs will be borne by the employer.

Indonesian representatives in Malaysia are authorized to set the minimum wage for PMI, which is 1,500 Malaysian ringgit (RM) or around Rp. 5.1 million, and the minimum income for prospective employers is RM7,000 or around Rp. 23 million.

Among other points outlined in the memorandum of understanding are the right to annual leave, the right to communicate, and the prohibition of withholding a maid's passport.