Indonesia hails maids’ day off in Singapore

JAKARTA—Indonesia hailed Singapore’s decision to grant domestic workers a weekly day off.

More than 200,000 women from impoverished villages in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India work as maids in Singapore. Some do not get a single day off during their first two-year contract.

“We certainly welcome it and we are very grateful,” Indonesia’s manpower minister Muhaimin Iskandar said.

“It’s what we have been striving for and we are very appreciative.

“All countries should accord Indonesian workers recognition as formal workers. What are the rights of formal workers? Guaranteed holiday, social security and other basic rights.”

Indonesia has taken stiff measures on placement procedures following numerous cases of mistreatment of its workers abroad, including unpaid salaries, violence and sexual abuse.

The government had enforced a moratorium on sending workers to three countries — Jordan, Kuwait and Malaysia, according to the Jakarta Globe newspaper.

Jakarta lifted its ban on sending maids to Malaysia in December after both countries agreed on a salary increase and measures aimed at curbing abuse.

There are reportedly around 50,000 Indonesians working as domestic workers in Singapore.

Singapore’s minister of state for manpower Tan Chuan Jin said Monday the mandatory weekly rest day would apply to maids whose work permits are issued or renewed from January 1, 2013.

While Singapore is proud of its squeaky-clean image and is widely-admired for its economic development, it has been regularly criticized for its treatment of foreign workers.