‘Ban on Indonesian Maids to Middle East Still in Effect’

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 2: Ambassador of Indonesia to Kuwait Tri Tharyat said the ban on deploying domestic workers to the Middle East – a governmental decision issued in 2009 – remains in effect to guarantee their safety, affirming the Indonesians are given opportunities in their country, reports Al-Rai daily.

Speaking to the daily, Tharyat pointed out that most of the Indonesian domestic workers in the GCC now are women and they were employed prior to the ban. He stressed there is no amendment in this regard and it was not discussed with the Kuwaiti side.

On the other hand, sources clarified Indonesia agreed only to send technical and trained workers for companies, not for individuals.

Sources said the Indonesians sent recently to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are under a major cleaning company which, in turn, assigns them to work in houses but they are not residing in these houses. Sources added a Kuwaiti company on Tuesday signed an agreement to recruit 300 Indonesians to work in its health institutes (spas).

Source: www.arabtimesonline.com