KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 27 (UPI) -- Malaysia is considering laws to protect the 200,000 foreign maids in the country, following public outcry over the terrible abuse of a teenage Indonesian maid.
Human Resources Minister Fong Chan Onn said measures would be taken to hold both employers and the employment agencies that hire them accountable for the welfare of foreign maids, the South China Morning Post reported.
Since the story of 19-year-old Nirmala Bonet's torture and disfigurement at the hands of her employer became public, sympathizers have donated cash and a hospital has offered free plastic surgery to repair her face and body.
Two other Indonesian maids have also come forward with tales of violent abuse.
But rights activists have expressed fears that the issue will be forgotten once the current media attention subsides, as those who employ maids tend to be the wealthy and well connected.
