PUTRAJAYA: The government plans to implement a comprehensive standard contract for domestic helpers by year-end, Manpower Department Director-General Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim said on Thursday.

The contract would cover helpers from all source countries like Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

At present only Filipino domestics have proper contracts.

Ismail told Bernama that the department had completed a draft proposal and was fine-tuning various clauses to provide adequate protection for both helpers and employers.

The contract would stipulate the terms and conditions that both parties should comply with and would cover the helpers' day-to-day work as well as look after their well being while giving adequate protection to employers.

The contract could be implemented by way of regulations by Human Resources Minister and there was no need for parliamentary approval, he said, adding that he welcomed input from the Bar Council on the contract.

Yesterday the Bar Council proposed that the contract specify details of duties, place of work, working hours, wages, leave, accommodation, meals, terms of employment, insurance, compensation and medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Trades Union (MTUC), in welcoming the move said the most important aspect of the contract should be to "recognise the helpers as fellow human beings and classify them as workers."

"At present our laws do not have any legal recognition for helpers," its president, Syed Shahir Syed Mahmoud, said.

He said Malaysia needed to seriously "improve" its standard to protect the helpers as this had a great bearing on its international reputation.

"The few cases of worker abuse have given our nation a negative image abroad and we should avoid this at all costs if we want to be considered as leaders among the developing world," he added. (Bernama)