The MoU, signed in Jakarta, will cover domestic workers’ wages and a new application through which workers may file complaints, amid concerns on the mistreatment of Indonesian maids in Malaysia, Reuters reported.

It was signed by human resources minister M Saravanan and Indonesia’s manpower minister Ida Fauziyah.

At a joint press conference with Widodo, Ismail said Malaysia always welcomed the contribution of Indonesian migrant workers to the development of the nation’s economy and people’s lives.

He said both countries have agreed on the One Channel System, which aims to integrate the Indonesian domestic servants (PDI) placement process.

“The signing of this MoU will also serve as the first step towards the re-entry of Indonesian manpower for employment in permitted sectors in Malaysia,” he said.

It was previously reported that the MoU will also cover workers’ weekly and annual leave entitlement, the right to communicate, a ban on withholding passports and one helper per household not exceeding six people, among others.

The MoU was signed for the first time on May 13, 2006 in Bali. Subsequently, the protocol to amend the MoU was signed on May 31, 2011 in Bandung and this expired on May 30, 2016.

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