The latest research conducted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) has revealed the actual conditions of recruitment and employment for migrant domestic workers in Indonesia and Malaysia, as disclosed in a workshop in Jakarta on Tuesday [November 3, 2015].

Presented in the Binational Workshop on Labor Migration in Domestic Work, the findings of the research are expected to provide a better understanding of the recruitment and working conditions of migrant domestic workers, the risks of forced labor and trafficking that they currently face and the degree to which employers in Malaysia are complying with an MoU between the Indonesian and Malaysian governments.

The ILO is holding the two-day workshop in Jakarta, which will end on Wednesday, through its Global Action Program on Migrant Domestic Workers and Their Families and Tripartite Action for the Protection and Promotion of the Right of Migrant Workers in the ASEAN Regional (ASEAN Triangle) project.

ILO country director in Indonesia, Francesco d’Odivido, stated that the ILO, together with its social partners, was committed to improving working conditions of Indonesian migrant workers, particularly migrant domestic workers, both in Indonesia and in destination countries.

“It is the ILO’s great pleasure to bring together constituents and key stakeholders from Indonesia and Malaysia to review the results of the research on the actual conditions of recruitment and employment of migrant domestic workers,” d’Odivido said on Tuesday.

“I believe this information will foster healthy dialogue among relevant stakeholders from the two countries and aimed to ensure better access, for all migrant domestic workers, to decent work and labor rights protection,” he added.

The research was conducted in five provinces of Indonesia: East Java, West Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara and Riau Islands. Three provinces, namely East Java, West Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara, are known as origin areas for Indonesian migrant workers. They also represent specific characteristics of both western and eastern parts of Indonesia. Meanwhile, Riau Islands is home to protection houses and trauma centers for abused domestic migrant workers whom have returned home.

Malaysia is a major destination country for migrant domestic workers, most of which are from Indonesia. Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry recorded 180,000 documented migrant domestic workers in Malaysia as of June 2013. (ebf) - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/03/recruitment-employment-conditions-ri-migrant-domestic-workers-assessed-workshop.html#sthash.DdA3iPn8.dpuf