The Sun Daily
KUALA LUMPUR: The ban on Cambodian maids is not expected to be lifted soon, according to National Association of Employment Agencies (Pikap) president Datuk Raja Zulkepley Dahalan.
Zulkepley, who visited Cambodia recently, said that there is still no word from the Cambodian authorities on rescinding the ban.
He said 20 Pikap members went to Cambodia and met with its Labour Minister Vong Sauth, officials and recruitment agencies.
“Our trip to Cambodia was solely for commercial interests. We did not discuss any political issues related to this ban. Those issues are government-to-government matters,” Zulkepley said.
“We are doing what we can as an association of employment agencies to seek the lifting of the ban, such as taking measures to increase protection and prevent abuses, but in the end this is a government matter,” Zulkepley said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Zulkepley said that apart from Vong, they also met officials from the Labour Ministry and the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department as well as the Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies (Acra) during their visit.
“Pikap is currently working with Acra to set up a shelter offering protection, counseling services and training to unhappy maids or those who run away,” he said. “We are also setting up a mediation centre to resolve employer-maid issues such as claims of sexual harassment and holding back salary.”
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had issued an immediate ban on the recruitment, training and sending of its domestic workers to Malaysia on Oct 15 this year, following allegations by various NGOs of rape, murder and abuse by Malaysian employers.
The sudden ban left agencies, already reeling from the moratorium imposed by Indonesia, unable to provide maids to Malaysians who had already paid for their services.
Zulkepley said nearly RM20 million had been paid to secure the services of 3,500 Cambodian women to be recruited as maids.
“The ban has affected the businesses and agencies badly. Around 35 Acra agencies in Cambodia are now empty as the girls have been sent home,” he said.
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