Maids not defying Indonesian ban, says embassy in Muscat

MUSCAT: Indonesia’s embassy in Muscat has refuted reports that Indonesian women are defying a government ban on travelling to Oman to work as maids.

“Ever since the ban has been put in place, no Indonesian housemaids have come to Oman,” a senior official at the Indonesian Embassy in Muscat, said. But Indonesian women can work in companies in Oman.

“They can work in corporates or in companies, but they can’t work for individuals,” the official said, adding that the Indonesian government is firm in its decision to cease sending Indonesians abroad to work as housemaids.

Indonesia had imposed a per- manent ban on sending women to the Middle East as domestic workers in May 2015, following reports of abuse.

“This was done to regulate the recruitment process, and to protect Indonesian workers in Oman. It will also end certain malpractices, which agencies in Indonesia indulge in while recruiting domestic workers from various regions in Indonesia,” officials had stressed when the ban was announced.

Skilled workers

Embassy officials said they are keen to bring skilled workers to Oman. “Our focus today is to reduce the number of Indonesian housemaids and, instead, to increase the number of professionals in other sectors,” he said.