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?
Four Malaysians who were cleaners died in a fire at a workers’ hostel in Geylang, Singapore, today.
English daily The Star Online reported that three of them, males aged between 40 and 50, died at the scene while the fourth male was confirmed dead upon arrival at hospital. The cause of death was suffocation.
The Straits Times quoted a statement by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) that they were informed about the incident at 1.40am.
The Singapore daily reported that black smoke was billowing from the shophouse unit, and firefighters put out the blaze within 30 minutes.
It also said the occupants of the unit were workers from China, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia.
It added that the cause of the fire was being investigated. – December 6, 2014.
Source: The Malaysian Insider
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