Both Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers should receive same wages for same work....

Why should a Filipino domestic worker earn more than an Indonesian domestic worker? Should not all workers be treated equally...

In Malaysia before, in the construction sector, it was said that the Malaysian Chinese was p0aid the highest, followed by the Malaysian Indian and lastly the Malaysian Malay (and the Malaysian Indonesian?) - and this was not right if they were doing the same work...

The Malaysian Constitution guarantees Equality, and the Malaysian Employment Act 1955 also stipulates that there should be no discrimination between the local worker and the foreign worker, i.e. section 60L

60L. Director General may inquire into complaint.

(1) The Director General may inquire into any complaint from a local employee that he is being discriminated against in relation to a foreign employee, or from a foreign employee that he is being discriminated against in relation to a local employee, by his employer in respect of the terms and conditions of his employment; and the Director General may issue to the employer such directives as may be necessary or expedient to resolve the matter.

(2) An employer who fails to comply with any directive of the Director General issued under subsection (1) commits an offence.

And, it is time to us to remove discrimination based on nationality that exists amongst migrant workers...

In a laundry shop - the Burmese earns higher than the Nepali worker who earns higher than the Indonesian >>> and it is all because of the agreements signed between countries.

In Malaysia, the employers are not complaining - because this will be a factor that prevents workers (yes - these foreign workers) from uniting... it is time for same pay for same work for all nationalities...

Migrant Forum in Asia, a coalition of Asian groups launched a campaign in 2005/6 on this very point - Equal Pay for Equal Work Now ! ! !

At, last Indonesian Government has woken up to the fact that Indonesian workers are the lowest paid amongst migrant workers - for doing the same work...

“The wages should be standard. There should not be discrimination. All nationalities should earn the same.” - Indonesian Manpower and Trans-migration Minister Erman Suparno

Years of experience could be a criteria for different wages. Educational qualification could be a criteria for different wages. Special skills could be a criteria for differen wages. But nationality, ethnicity, religion ...should never be a reason for a worker to receive a different wage for the same work...

Indonesia will resume sending its citizens to work as maids in Malaysia next month.

Indonesian Manpower and Trans-migration Minister Erman Suparno said the resumption would, however, be subject to the settlement of specific issues.

During his meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam yesterday, he raised the following issues:

> Allowing maids to hold their passports instead of the employers doing so;

> Giving maids a weekly day off;

> Requiring employers to bank in monthly pay;

> Giving adequate protection to maids from abusive employers; and

> Curbing maids from being brought into Malaysia illegally.

He said discussions would start on July 15.

“We hope to reach a consensus within two weeks. We hope that the discussions will solve the problem so we can resume sending maids,” he told a press conference at the Indonesian embassy.

Erman said the Indonesians would also discuss minimum wages during the discussions.

“Being trained or untrained is irrelevant. The question is what are the qualifications required by employers for a domestic servant?

“The wages should be standard. There should not be discrimination. All nationalities should earn the same.”

Erman said the two countries would also review the memorandum of understanding on labour, which was signed in May 2006.

“We need to review it because both countries have since passed laws which are not consistent with it.

“On the Indonesian side we have a new human trafficking law which came into force in 2007,” he said.

On his meeting, Erman said he was now “happy and confident”, adding that Dr Subramaniam was responsive to suggestions to improve the situation. - Star, 7/7/2009, Maid tiff set to be resolved