Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
story images
story images
story images
mk-logo
News
Tougher laws needed to protect domestic workers, experts say

Experts have urged Putrajaya to enact legislation to protect domestic workers in the country because existing laws, guidelines and bilateral agreements have failed to do so.

“We need binding instruments because current laws do not protect domestic workers in this country,” M Ramachelvam said while chairing the “Consultation on Domestic Workers in Malaysia” roundtable at the Bar Council Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Ramachelvam has led the Bar Council’s Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Committee (MRIAC) for the last 11 years.

The Ministry of Human Resources, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), local and international labour rights NGOs and the Bar Council came together at the roundtable to analyse “Guidelines and Tips for Employers of Foreign Domestic Workers”, a book that was launched by Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem in May.

Representing the ministry was Labour Department assistant director Madanjit Singh, who explained the idea behind the book.

“We took a long time - two years to come up with these guidelines. We wanted to go with a more persuasive approach… the idea is we hope the guidelines will slowly be absorbed into the law,” Madanjit said...

Unlocking Article
Unlocking Article
View Comments
ADS