We refer to the numerous media reports regarding agents exploiting runaway maids to further fleece employers of money. This is indeed a very common and rampant practice by unscrupulous maids agencies in Malaysia who are actually in cahoots with Indonesian labour recruitment agencies that lure maids into this recycling scam.

We would also like to bring to the attention of the Malaysian authorities and potential employers that some maid agencies even ask employers to pay up front all the maid's salary as an insurance against a possible runaway.

It is totally illegal for the employers to pay a maid's salary to the agent as the Malaysia-Indonesia memorandum of understanding on labour requires the salary to be banked into the maids' bank account every month and not to agents

We have also came across an ISO-certified maid agency (under our watch list) which has openly advertised that its Muslim maids are willing to handle pork and dogs, which is an open violation of the employment guidelines set by Malaysian authorities.

We fully support Malaysian Immigration Department director-general Wahid Mohd Don's statement that stern action will be taken against unscrupulous maid agents.

It is time that the Persatuan Pekerja Asing (Papa) come up with more constructive and professional engagement by proposing more significant regulating laws for the second-most corrupted industry in Malaysia. These include:

Introducing a clearly defined Foreign Workers Law that regulates for a more transparent agency fee structure to be passed by the Malaysian parliament.

Stern action against manpower outsourcing agencies which exploit workers by making them work more than 16 hours a day at more than one location without overtime payment.

Making public a blacklist of local and foreign agents plus employers that are involved in irregular practices.

Making sure that all maids have the required skill certification and are mentally fit before they are allowed to enter Malaysia.

Imposing an independent annual evaluation test on all Malaysian maid agencies before they are allowed to renew their licences.

Introducing mandatory jail terms for agency directors and employers who are involved in human trafficking and falsification of maids' travel documents.

We also support Papa president Raja Zulkepley Dahalan exercise to release the name of unethical agents and to recommend that the Malaysian authorities revoke their licenses.

The writer is country director, Migrant Care, an regional NGO for migrant workers.