Today, domestic work plays a significant role in Malaysian households, with many families relying on maids and maid agencies to assist with their domestic housing needs. Behind the closed doors of affluent homes, a hidden reality persists—one where housemaids silently endure abuse, violence, or even explotation. Despite progress in various sectors, domestic abuse towards housemaids remains an issue that is often overlooked by many. This blog aims to increase awareness for employers on the scenes of domestic abuse around housemaids in Malaysia, exploring its underlying factors, impact, the laws around it and its inadequacy.
Forms of Abuse:
Domestic abuse towards housemaids in Malaysia encompasses a spectrum of abuses, including physical violence, verbal harassment, sexual exploitation, and psychological coercion. Though it is unconventional and mostly unheard of, Instances of physical and sexual abuse by employers or their family members are not uncommon, leaving housemaids traumatized and scarred.
The Cultural Factor:
Cultural attitudes and societal norms in Malaysia may be the driving force to the sight of domestic abuse towards housemaids. Patriarchal values, coupled with the normalization of hierarchy status within the Malaysian society and households do create a conducive environment for exploitation.
Impact on Victims:
The impact of domestic abuse on housemaids extends far beyond the physical realm, leaving lasting emotional and psychological scars. Many suffer in silence, fearing retaliation or further victimization if they speak out. The trauma they endure not only affects their own well-being but also reverberates through their families and communities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and vulnerability.
Laws, Protection, and its Effectiveness:
While there are laws in place to address domestic violence in Malaysia, including the Domestic Violence Act 1994, the protection of housemaids specifically has been a matter of ongoing concern and advocacy circulating the internet and media. The relevant laws and regulations concerning domestic violence towards housemaids in Malaysia includes-
- Domestic Violence Act 1994 (DVA): The DVA is the primary legislation addressing domestic violence in Malaysia. It provides protection to victims of domestic violence, including spouses, children, and any other person who is a member of the household. The Act defines domestic violence broadly to encompass physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse. However, its applicability to housemaids may be limited as they are not explicitly mentioned in the Act.
- Employment Act 1955: The Employment Act governs the terms and conditions of employment for various categories of workers in Malaysia, including domestic workers. While the Act sets out provisions related to wages, working hours, rest days, and termination of employment, it may not specifically address issues related to domestic violence towards housemaids.
- The Penal Code (Act 574): The Penal Code contains provisions related to criminal offenses, including assault, rape, and other forms of physical and sexual violence. These provisions apply to all individuals, including housemaids, and perpetrators can be prosecuted under the Penal Code for committing acts of domestic violence.
Despite the existence of these laws and policies, challenges remain in effectively addressing domestic violence towards housemaids in Malaysia. These challenges include inadequate enforcement of existing laws, lack of awareness among housemaids about their rights, cultural barriers, and the vulnerability of migrant domestic workers due to their immigration status.
The Role of Employers:
As Malaysia’s leading maid agency which have encountered numerous cases of subtle abuse and unfair treatment, it is our mission to ensure that the domestic abuse issue is made known to the public. We believe employers have a pivotal role to play in combating domestic abuse towards housemaids. Employers have a basic duty to uphold ethical employment practices, treat housemaids with dignity and respect, and provide a safe working environment free from abuse. Do remember that housemaids are important people in your household which have sacrificed plenty just to make a living for themselves too. Housemaids are humans too and they do not deserve any ill treatment.
Conclusion:
Domestic abuse around housemaids in Malaysia is a grave area that demands increased awareness. Innovedge believes together we can steer towards a brighter future, tackling domestic abuse towards housemaids. As a maid agency, we envision Malaysia to transform into a country where housemaids aren’t afraid to work at and a country where every individual, regardless of their occupation or background, can live and work with dignity and respect.
