If you ask the employer (or potential future employers) whether their workers should be given one rest day per week, they will most likely say "NO" - and give all kinds of reasons. If you ask employers, if their workers should be given paid public holidays...or paid annual leave...or paid maternity leave, they will, most likely say 'No'.

Hence, the Star's survey, an SMS poll at that, gave us the result that 75% are against the granting of a day off per week to domestic workers - and I bet you that most of them were employers/potential employers/family of employers of domestic workers. Also wonder, what was the question asked in that poll? And, in what language?

More than 75% of respondents in an SMS poll conducted by The Star are against the idea of granting maids a day off every week.

Yesterday’s poll, which asked if maids should be given one rest day a week, drew a total of 769 respondents over 11 hours.

International Migrants Alliance (IMA)

1^st Year Anniversary Statement

June 16, 2009 – Press Release

For reference:   Eni Lestari, chairperson

                        (852) 96081475

In celebration of its first year

IMA vows stronger campaigns, challenges GFMD

In the midst of the worsening global economic recession, the International Migrants Alliance vows stronger campaigns as it celebrates its first year of founding.

“The IMA’s founding in June 2008 came at a time when violations against migrants and refugees around the world intensify with the looming of the global financial crisis. Within this year, we registered our stalwart resistance against neoliberal globalization and we vow a stronger force in the years to come,” said Eni Lestari, chairperson of the IMA.

2009/06/08

Ice factory ammonia leak floors Bangladeshi workers

By : Noor Adzman Baharuddin

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/20090608174242/Article/index_html

ALOR STAR, Malaysia Mon:

An ammonia gas leak at an ice-making factory in Simpang Empat Kuar near here forced four Bangladeshi workers to be warded at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital today. The four workers, in their 30s, were sleeping in their living quarters, located in the factory premise, in the 11am incident.

Alor Star fire station chief Mohd Taakop Mohd Dali said the leak was detected by a few co-workers of the four when they returned to their rooms.