The Malaysian government began to officially recruit foreign domestic workers more than 25 years ago. The number of domestic workers recruited has grown from a few hundred to almost half a million today. This reflects the heavy reliance on domestic workers and the need for their services by Malaysian households as we grow economically.

But continuously, news reports and cases handled by various organisations reveal the inhumane treatment given to domestic workers. Tenaganita has rescued over 148 domestic workers with over 1,050 violations of rights. Abused, raped, unpaid, unorganised, isolated, overworked and unrecognised as workers, domestic workers are in a trafficked situation in Malaysia.

The situation has become so serious that employers believe they can get away with murder as in the case of Kunasir, a 24-year-old Indonesian domestic worker who was found dead with a bruised and beaten body.

We have reached a point where our image is that we are arrogant as a nation and we abuse and violate rights with impunity. But this is the state of affairs on the protection of rights of domestic workers.

Domestic workers are excluded from the Employment Act and not recognised as workers but as a domestic servant. This exclusion denies the domestic worker her basic rights to off days, annual leave, medical benefit and the defining of her tasks. They do not even have a standard contract nor a basic wage.

Employers hold their passports and threaten them with arrest if they leave the house. The domestic worker is not even allowed, in many cases to talk to the neighbour. She is caught in an isolated, individualised work environment in the private domain of her employers and is thus open to abuse and violence.

Jordan employs over 400,000 domestic workers. Last year, it moved far ahead in rights protection when it amended the country's labour laws to include the protection of all domestic workers. Domestic workers are now recognised as workers. The country has begun the journey for standard setting.

At the global level, the ILO (International Labor Organisation) has finally recognised the need for a new convention that will give focus to domestic workers and set standards to recognise the rights of domestic workers who have so far remained invisible as workers. ILO has begun the process and will adopt a convention in 2010.

But Malaysia is backtracking on in its efforts. The Human Resources Ministry has not responded to the call for at least a day off a week for domestic workers. The lack of response indicates that the government does not see domestic workers as human beings who need rest and space for themselves. It contradicts its commitment to the ILO decent work agenda.

With the ILO process, we want Malaysia to change its position and perceptions of domestic work. Malaysia needs to make all efforts to increase protection of rights of domestic workers and move away from the institutionalised trafficked condition it has placed domestic workers.

Malaysia has ratified Cedaw (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women). It has a commitment to protect domestic workers who are mainly women.

Malaysia is under review for its human rights protection record. It can no longer use the strategy of enacting new laws without political commitment. It is challenged today to move forward to protect one of the most marginalised, abused and exploited group of workers - the domestic workers.

The government must respect the dignity of the workers and protect their rights. The best way is to recognise domestic work as work through a new regulation.

The writer is director, Tenaganita .