New deal for foreign maids?

I am quite delighted to read about the news that there is going to be a new employment arrangement for the foreign maids.

The Government is going to grant certain rights for the maids in accordance to the spirit of Employment Act 1955. The Act is applicable for those earning less than RM1500 per month.
The maids can take their grievances against employers to the Labour Court. Labour Court is a cheaper avenue for the maids as each party has to bear their own costs.

Prior to this, they can appear in person or hire a lawyer to represent them in the civil court (magistrate court or session court). If they lost the case, the costs follow the event meaning the maids have to bear the legal costs of the winning party - the employers.

Secondly, the employers have to pay the monthly insurance coverage for the foreign maids. This is in accordance to the Workers Compensation Act. The Act is applicable for those earning less than RM500 per month.

Those are the progressive deal. Malaysians have to learn to treat their maids and foreign workers in a civilised manner. There are our helpers and not the modern slave.

What could have triggered this new deal?
First and foremost is the necessity to maintain the cordial relationship with the major supplier of the foreign maids, namely Indonesia.

Secondly, Chin Well Fasteners Co Sdn Bhd v Sampath Kumar Vellingiri & Ors [2006] 1 MLJ 117 is a case in point that could have contributed to this new deal.

Despite the new deal, I have been hearing about the abusive treatment on the foreign workers by Malaysia enforcement officers. Lih Kang from Suaram photo-blogged it.