By EILEEN NG
The Associated Press
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian workers' rights group urged Cambodia on Friday to stop supplying housemaids to Malaysia, claiming many are abused and made to work like slaves because of inadequate protection.
Malaysia has recruited thousands of Cambodianwomen since neighboring Indonesia barred domestic workers from coming to Malaysia in 2009 following a string of high-profile cases of assault by employers.
Officials estimate there are more than 50,000Cambodian maids in Malaysia, including 30,000 who arrived this year.
A Cambodian maid was found dead in Malaysia last month under mysterious circumstances, while another was rescued by Malaysian police after she was allegedly abused and had her head shaved bald by her employer.
Irene Fernandez (pictured), director of the rights group Tenaganita, said her organization helped another 41 Cambodian maids, some as young as 15, after they were rescued or ran away from their employers in the past six months because of abuse or unpaid wages.
"Today, another nation of domestic workers goes through the same experiences of torture, control and denial of rights," Fernandez said in a statement. "Cambodian maids now remain in a condition of forced labor with practices of modern day slavery."
Tenaganita urged Cambodia to ban maids from coming to Malaysia until tougher laws are enacted to protect their rights.
Malaysia is among Southeast Asia's top importers of foreign labor, employing more than 200,000 mainly Indonesian maids. Many households rely on maids for cooking, cleaningand looking after children and the elderly.
Indonesia is expected to lift its ban on maids after signing a deal with Malaysia in May for better conditions to curb abuses.
Ung Vantha, an official with the Cambodian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said his government is concerned about abuse and is working with authorities and activists to tackle the problem.
The embassy is investigating claims that the maid found dead last month was beaten by her employers, he said. Police have said the girl died of pneumonia.
Visiting Cambodian opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua said the maid, who was found dead outside her employer's house, was only 15, according to her family, and not 22 as stated on her passport. Domestic workers in Malaysia must be at least 21.
"We are talking about child labor here. Young girls from poor families are targeted by middlemen who falsified their age in their passport," she said.
Malaysian police and immigration officials familiar with maid issues could not be immediately reached.
Fernandez said about half of the 41 Cambodian maids helped by Tenaganita were under 21. All claimed they were overworked, not given days off and had their passports confiscated by employers.
More than half alleged they suffered physical abuse, while about one-fifth were believed to be sexually harassed.
Most returned to Cambodia after Tenaganita negotiated for compensation and wage settlements with their employers. They did not seek police help because they were depressed and eager to return home, Fernandez said.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian workers' rights group urged Cambodia on Friday to stop supplying housemaids to Malaysia, claiming many are abused and made to work like slaves because of inadequate protection.
Malaysia has recruited thousands of Cambodianwomen since neighboring Indonesia barred domestic workers from coming to Malaysia in 2009 following a string of high-profile cases of assault by employers.
Officials estimate there are more than 50,000Cambodian maids in Malaysia, including 30,000 who arrived this year.
A Cambodian maid was found dead in Malaysia last month under mysterious circumstances, while another was rescued by Malaysian police after she was allegedly abused and had her head shaved bald by her employer.
Irene Fernandez (pictured), director of the rights group Tenaganita, said her organization helped another 41 Cambodian maids, some as young as 15, after they were rescued or ran away from their employers in the past six months because of abuse or unpaid wages.
"Today, another nation of domestic workers goes through the same experiences of torture, control and denial of rights," Fernandez said in a statement. "Cambodian maids now remain in a condition of forced labor with practices of modern day slavery."
Tenaganita urged Cambodia to ban maids from coming to Malaysia until tougher laws are enacted to protect their rights.
Malaysia is among Southeast Asia's top importers of foreign labor, employing more than 200,000 mainly Indonesian maids. Many households rely on maids for cooking, cleaningand looking after children and the elderly.
Indonesia is expected to lift its ban on maids after signing a deal with Malaysia in May for better conditions to curb abuses.
Ung Vantha, an official with the Cambodian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said his government is concerned about abuse and is working with authorities and activists to tackle the problem.
The embassy is investigating claims that the maid found dead last month was beaten by her employers, he said. Police have said the girl died of pneumonia.
Visiting Cambodian opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua said the maid, who was found dead outside her employer's house, was only 15, according to her family, and not 22 as stated on her passport. Domestic workers in Malaysia must be at least 21.
"We are talking about child labor here. Young girls from poor families are targeted by middlemen who falsified their age in their passport," she said.
Malaysian police and immigration officials familiar with maid issues could not be immediately reached.
Fernandez said about half of the 41 Cambodian maids helped by Tenaganita were under 21. All claimed they were overworked, not given days off and had their passports confiscated by employers.
More than half alleged they suffered physical abuse, while about one-fifth were believed to be sexually harassed.
Most returned to Cambodia after Tenaganita negotiated for compensation and wage settlements with their employers. They did not seek police help because they were depressed and eager to return home, Fernandez said.
5 comments:
fucking Malaysia govt and fucking king and fucking stupid khmer govt not protect our people. all go to hell..
Cambodia has such situation is due to Gvt has to insist its population to quick the country for working abroad . Because This affair that is one of CPP policy in order to prevent from eventually unrest movement .
2,000 Vietnamese immigrants are flowing in Cambodia per month
living happily and Khmer govt is
sending Khmer people and maids
to work as slaves in abroad.
Cambodians will be minorities in
its own country.That is the great
leadership of Hun Sen.
All Khmer people in Cambodia and
abroad have known it,but they
did not nothing to throw Hun Sen
out of power.
The 80% of KI Media blogger have
known,but also they did not do
either.
Hi Everyone,
One of KI-Media member who has his name in Facebook as Khmer Sovannaphumi but his real name is Pang Sokhoeun, former political asylum and now living in Sweden. He always copies news from here to post in his facebook profile to promote himself, but right now, he tries to removed and blocked anyone who dares to reveal his con activity particular he tries to hide what he has cheated his wife (Sreypov Chea) by having a girlfriend (Sokunthear Sam) behind his wife back. Now, his girlfriend had ran way from him after she knew his cheating.
A con man Pang Sokhoeun as well as KI-Media like to insult to the government officers who have affairs, but himself does even worse than other people. What a shame!
When one person had posted in KI-Media and accused that a con man Pang Sokhoeun is a brother of Som Ek (former Chief of Tiger's head sign guerilla, who was arrested and put in prison by Cambodian government) during that time, a cheater Pang Sokhoeun came to deny in his blogs immediately, but this time, he has bury his head in the sand because he cannot deny the truth that he has cheated his wife. Right now, all he can do, is removed and blocked anyone who dared to reveal his cheating.
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