Not a problem if Indonesia stops sending maids: MAMA

The decision to stop sending maids overseas by Indonesia is not expected to severely burden Malaysian employers, according to Malaysian Maid Employers Association president (MAMA) president Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein.

He said the government could take several long and short term measures to meet the demand of employers who faced difficulties in securing maids at the moment.

He said for the long term, the government and private sector could look at setting up nurseries at the workplaces of parents operated by trained childminders.

"The idea here is seen as compatible with the current situation as parents can monitor their children as compared to babysitters," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He was commenting on Indonesian President Joko Widodo's call to women in the republic to stop working as maids abroad.

"The practice of sending Indonesian women to work as domestic maids abroad should be stopped. We have our dignity and self-esteem," Joko was quoted as saying by Indonesia's Antara news agency.

Joko further ordered Indonesia's Manpower Minister to work out a formula and action plan to ensure Indonesia stopped sending maids abroad.

Engku Ahmad Fauzi said the government could also set up institutes to train skilled and quality maids among locals.

In the short-term, he said the government could source maids from countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Association for Foreign Maids Agencies president, Jeffrey Foo, said the government now needed to focus on sourcing maids from other countries apart from Indonesia.

"There should be no problem sourcing maids from countries such as Cambodia, Bangladesh and Nepal to meet the demand of Malaysian employers," he said.