KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15, 2012): Upholding the rights of migrant workers must be made paramount in any legislation or agreement pertaining to their recruitment and placement abroad.

This is in contrast to the current "money talk" between governments and private parties, said Retno Dewi, head of Indonesia Labour Association, a Jakarta-based migrant rights group.

Responding to recent reports of the alleged rape of an Indonesian woman by three policemen in Penang, she said: "We view the current arrangements for recruitment and placement of migrant workers as mostly profit-oriented.

"They are also done to (largely) benefit the state and private agencies," Retno told theSun today when contacted via a social networking site.

Among others, she referred to terms under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Placement and Recruitment of Domestic Helpers signed between Indonesia and Malaysia in May last year.

The signing was intended to end a two-year freeze imposed by Indonesia on sending its citizens to work as domestic helpers here, following allegations of mistreatment and abuse, as it introduced better "protection" for both the workers and their prospective employers.

Retno, however, argued that the "protection", which includes a mandatory off-day a week and higher wages, was not adequate.

"The terms were drafted by only taking into consideration monetary factors such as meeting demands from the receiving country, income generated for the state, as well as profit for the agents involved," she claimed.

They include measures such as mandatory training in household chores for domestic helpers, she said.

"As long as there is no legislation which takes into account input from (migrant) workers, the abuse and mistreatment will continue," she said, suggesting that migrant workers be allowed to form or join a union to better protect their interest.

It was reported that only 73 domestic helpers from Indonesia have been legally employed here since the freeze was officially lifted in December, despite pressing demands for their service.

Under the MoU, the hiring fee has been capped at RM4,511, from which RM1,800 will be deducted from the domestic helper's salary, set at RM700 a month, over a period of six months.

"On top of a reduction in placement fees, the association is also urging the (Indonesian) government to limit the role of private agencies as they have been abusing their position to oppress and cheat the workers," said Retno.

She suggested that both governments consider negotiating a direct deal for recruitment and placement of migrant workers, arguing that it would ensure more accountability and better protection for the workers.