Cases of Indonesian maids being abused by their Malaysian employers have constantly been a thorn in the ties between the two nations.
The horrific cases of Nirmala Bonat (left) and Siti Hajar, among others, have fueled anti-Malaysian sentiments in the republic.
Under pressure from rights groups, the Indonesian government has today threatened to temporarily halt sending their domestic helpers to Malaysia.
"We will likely stop it (dispatch of domestic helpers) temporarily," Indonesian state news agency Antara quoted Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno as saying.
"But we will first invite relevant ministers and parties to a meeting on June 23 to make a preliminary evaluation," he added.
Siti Hajar's case came to light after the Malaysian media reported that she was hospitalised due to severe injuries and burns (right).
Siti, who worked for a Malaysian widow in Kuala Lumpur, alleged that she had been beaten with a cane and scaled with boiling water over a three-year period.
Her employer's family subsequently went to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to apologise and to settled the maid's unpaid three-year salary, totalling RM17,000.
But it did not stop the employer, Hau Yuan Tyung, 43, from being charged yesterday with causing grievous bodily harm and faces a 20-year jail term.
Siti's plight had even led to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono making a personal telephone call to her.
Last November, a Malaysian former flight attendant was sentenced to 18 years in jail for using an iron and boiling water to inflict horrific wounds on her Indonesian maid.
'I want it stopped'
According to Antara, Malaysian representatives will also be invited to the June 23 meeting in Jakarta.
Others slated to attend are Indonesian minister for women's empowerment, the foreign minister, the law and human rights minister, the home affairs minister, the national police chief and the Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia.
Erman said the decision to be taken at the meeting would have a "systemic impact" and his ministry could not decide on its own the problem relating to the dispatch of domestic helpers to Malaysia.
"But I want it (the dispatch of domestic helpers) stopped until there is a response from the Malaysian government on protection of Indonesian migrant workers there," he said.
Malaysia has no laws governing conditions for domestic workers but the government has promised to draft legislation to protect them from sexual harassment, non-payment of wages and poor conditions.
Erman said the government would block the flow of domestic servants "until the Malaysian government gives us an assurance that it will protect Indonesian migrant workers there."
Jakarta wants to review MoU
Delegations from the two countries are also scheduled to hold talks on July 15 to discuss the problems facing Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.
At this meeting, the Indonesians plan to press for a review of several clauses in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation which both sides have signed early this year.
The clauses, among others, involve the protection of Indonesian migrant workers as well as improvement to their salaries.
"If there is no agreement on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers is reached, we will consider putting a temporary stop to the dispatch of domestic helpers," Erman warned.
Erman said he discussed the abuse of Indonesian workers with Malaysian Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam early this month when they attended the 98th International Labour Conference in Geneva.
Contacted later, Subramaniam declined to comment on the matter as he has yet to receive an official statement from the Indonesian side.
M'sia blacklisted
Malaysia has gained worldwide notoriety over its treatment of both migrant workers and refugees.
On Wednesday, the United States put Malaysia back on the blacklist of countries trafficking in people after removing the country from the list last year.
Among the reasons stated included the poor treatment of foreign domestic helpers.
Yesterday, another report declared Malaysia as the worst place for refugees for the second consecutive year.
According to English daily Malay Mail, more than 1,000 maids, mostly Indonesians, flee their abusive employers every year.
Of the estimated 300,000 maids in Malaysia, Indonesians make up 90 percent while Filipinas constitute eight per cent.
Indonesian Embassy second secretary (consular affairs) Susapto Anggoro Broto had told the daily that Malaysia was the most problematic of all the Asian countries that take in Indonesian maids.
The horrific cases of Nirmala Bonat (left) and Siti Hajar, among others, have fueled anti-Malaysian sentiments in the republic.Under pressure from rights groups, the Indonesian government has today threatened to temporarily halt sending their domestic helpers to Malaysia.
"We will likely stop it (dispatch of domestic helpers) temporarily," Indonesian state news agency Antara quoted Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno as saying.
"But we will first invite relevant ministers and parties to a meeting on June 23 to make a preliminary evaluation," he added.
Siti Hajar's case came to light after the Malaysian media reported that she was hospitalised due to severe injuries and burns (right).Siti, who worked for a Malaysian widow in Kuala Lumpur, alleged that she had been beaten with a cane and scaled with boiling water over a three-year period.
Her employer's family subsequently went to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to apologise and to settled the maid's unpaid three-year salary, totalling RM17,000.
But it did not stop the employer, Hau Yuan Tyung, 43, from being charged yesterday with causing grievous bodily harm and faces a 20-year jail term.
Siti's plight had even led to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono making a personal telephone call to her.
Last November, a Malaysian former flight attendant was sentenced to 18 years in jail for using an iron and boiling water to inflict horrific wounds on her Indonesian maid.
'I want it stopped'
According to Antara, Malaysian representatives will also be invited to the June 23 meeting in Jakarta.
Others slated to attend are Indonesian minister for women's empowerment, the foreign minister, the law and human rights minister, the home affairs minister, the national police chief and the Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia.
Erman said the decision to be taken at the meeting would have a "systemic impact" and his ministry could not decide on its own the problem relating to the dispatch of domestic helpers to Malaysia."But I want it (the dispatch of domestic helpers) stopped until there is a response from the Malaysian government on protection of Indonesian migrant workers there," he said.
Malaysia has no laws governing conditions for domestic workers but the government has promised to draft legislation to protect them from sexual harassment, non-payment of wages and poor conditions.
Erman said the government would block the flow of domestic servants "until the Malaysian government gives us an assurance that it will protect Indonesian migrant workers there."
Jakarta wants to review MoU
Delegations from the two countries are also scheduled to hold talks on July 15 to discuss the problems facing Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia.
At this meeting, the Indonesians plan to press for a review of several clauses in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation which both sides have signed early this year.
The clauses, among others, involve the protection of Indonesian migrant workers as well as improvement to their salaries."If there is no agreement on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers is reached, we will consider putting a temporary stop to the dispatch of domestic helpers," Erman warned.
Erman said he discussed the abuse of Indonesian workers with Malaysian Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam early this month when they attended the 98th International Labour Conference in Geneva.
Contacted later, Subramaniam declined to comment on the matter as he has yet to receive an official statement from the Indonesian side.
M'sia blacklisted
Malaysia has gained worldwide notoriety over its treatment of both migrant workers and refugees.
On Wednesday, the United States put Malaysia back on the blacklist of countries trafficking in people after removing the country from the list last year.
Among the reasons stated included the poor treatment of foreign domestic helpers.Yesterday, another report declared Malaysia as the worst place for refugees for the second consecutive year.
According to English daily Malay Mail, more than 1,000 maids, mostly Indonesians, flee their abusive employers every year.
Of the estimated 300,000 maids in Malaysia, Indonesians make up 90 percent while Filipinas constitute eight per cent.
Indonesian Embassy second secretary (consular affairs) Susapto Anggoro Broto had told the daily that Malaysia was the most problematic of all the Asian countries that take in Indonesian maids.
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