90 maids die in Singapore

BATAM: About 90 Indonesian domestic workers died in Singapore due to occupational accidents in the last three years, said an Indonesian diplomat in Singapore on Tuesday.

"Most of them fell from apartments while cleaning windows or hanging out clothes," said the Indonesian Embassy's information head, Chalief Akbar.

He also said that some Indonesian maids had experienced sexual harassment.

In order to protect Indonesian maids the embassy would only serve domestics through 186 accredited local agents starting Aug. 1, he said.

"We also urge Indonesian migrant labor suppliers to only contact these 186 agents when arranging work placements," he said. --Antara