Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
The group, employed as factory workers here, said the agent has unilaterally
deducted their salaries purportedly to pay for levies, food and lodging.
<p>They are also unhappy over their living conditions, claiming their rented units
in Senai are crammed, that they are provided with frugal meals and constantly
threatened.</p>
<p>The group is from among 64 workers from Tamil Nadu who came to Malaysia on
March 1. They made their way to Kuala Lumpur in smaller groups and have sought
assistance from Yayasan Strategic Sosial, the social arm of MIC.</p>
<p>Contacted by phone from here, one of the workers, Gomathy Shankar, 26, expressed
unhappiness that the agent had deducted so much to pay for their RM1,200 levy.</p>
<p>“He has deducted RM220 and RM240 from our salary monthly, leaving us with
nothing much.”</p>
<p>Gomathy said he wanted the agent to return his passport to enable him to return
to India.</p>
<p>“I have been here for almost eight months but have yet to save enough
to cover the 85,000 rupees (RM8,000) I paid to an agent in India.”</p>
<p>YSS officer in charge of immigration matters, Wanita Ramani, said they are
keen to contact the agent for his side of the story.</p>
<p>"Our main concern is to ensure foreign workers are not mistreated and
abused as it will harm the country’s image.”</p>
<p>The State Labour Department is investigating the case.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com