Cambodia to send maids to Malaysia in June

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Ith Samheng

 

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia will send a group of maids to work in Malaysia in early June after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in 2015, the Khmer Times reported.

Cambodian Labour Minister Ith Samheng said in his three meetings with Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot, they had discussed the process of recruitment, training and sending the workers to Malaysia safely.

“We agreed to set the date for sending the first group to work in Malaysia on June 1,” he said.

Samheng added he would meet the Malaysian minister again in Kuala Lumpur in early February.

He said the number of maids leaving in June is still unknown and would depend on the ability of recruitment agencies as well as public interest.

“We will know the exact number of maids near the date. Before sending them to Malaysia we will explain about the working conditions and tell them how to stay safe,” he said.

They would be trained for one or two months prior to departure.

In October 2011, the Cambodian government imposed a moratorium on its citizens working as domestic helpers in Malaysia due to reports of abuse by employers.

The Malaysian minister told reporters Tuesday that foreign workers including those from Cambodia would be protected under the MoU.

“We will ensure that the welfare of workers from Cambodia will be protected,” he said.

According to the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR), as of Dec 31 last year, a total of 4,402 Cambodians were working legally in Malaysia.  Under the rehiring programme by Ministry of Home Affairs, 3,588 Cambodians have registered and currently being processed by the Immigration Department.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Royal Government of Cambodia for these workers. As far as social problems are concerned, they have not created a single social problem for our country,” Riot said.

Meanwhile, the Human Resources Ministry said Malaysia hoped that Cambodia could agree to send the maids earlier on May 1.

“Details of the agreement will be discussed during the meeting of both ministers next month,” the ministry’s corporate communications unit said when contacted by Bernama today. – Bernama