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 plight of Indonesia’s overseas workers has historically been suspect. Now
the latest official data seem to indicate a rise in the abuse of, mostly female,
Indonesian workers in Malaysia.
<p>"We have received more reports of abuses of Indonesian maids and workers
in the last several months. Last month alone we had three abuse cases, leading
to one death," the Foreign Ministry’s director for Indonesian migrant worker
protection, Ferry Adamhar, told The Jakarta Post here Thursday.</p>
<p>He said at least two cases of abuse had been reported each month this year.
This is a significant increase compared to last year.</p>
<p>Officials point to the usual suspects for the predicament of Indonesia’s migrant
workers: lack of legal protection, the unpreparedness of workers to cope with
foreign surroundings, unscrupulous labor companies and exploitative employees.</p>
<p>"Besides a lack of legal protection, most of our workers lack the necessary
documents, such as a work permit and visa," Ferry said, adding that "many
also misuse the regulation that allows foreign visitors to stay in Malaysia
for two weeks without a visa to find a job".</p>
<p>The rise in the number of reported cases could also be a result of better reporting
mechanisms, with the Foreign Ministry having increased the number of officials
assigned to countries where many Indonesians work.</p>
<p>More than 400,000 Indonesians officially work in Malaysia, most employed as
maids, construction workers or shop attendants.</p>
<p>But the unofficial number of Indonesian workers in the neighboring country,
according to some estimates, could be double that figure. Many of these workers
have entered Malaysia illegally and are not protected by the law.</p>
<p>While a combination of factors has helped create the detrimental conditions
many of the migrant workers find themselves in, labor activists also blame authorities
in Malaysia for the growing abuse.</p>
<p>According to Suaram, a leading Malaysian rights group, a civilian volunteer
force established to help Malaysian police round up illegal immigrants often
uses excessive force, causing serious injury to Indonesians and other foreign
nationals.</p>
<p>The rights group said Wednesday most members of the volunteer force of more
than 400,000 civilians — known by the local acronym Rela — were poorly trained
and did not understand the basics of human rights.</p>
<p>The volunteers "regularly use brutal methods and excessive force while
arresting migrants", Suaram was quoted as saying by AP, adding that it
was "a national shame and a dangerous setback for the promotion and protection
of human rights in Malaysia".</p>
<p>Suaram cited at least three incidents since July when suspected illegal immigrants
from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Myanmar were beaten.</p>
<p>Most were later discovered to have valid immigration documents, it added.</p>
<p>It said volunteers also often forced their way into homes without warrants,
destroyed private property and wrongfully detained suspects.</p>
<p>Suaram urged Malaysian officials to cease the use of these civilian volunteers.</p>
<p>Ferry said that to prevent such abuses Indonesian workers headed to Malaysia
or any other country must have all the necessary documents.</p>
<p>"The Manpower Ministry and Immigration Office must ensure that our workers
have sufficient documentation before they let them leave the country,"
he said.</p>
<p>The predicament of Indonesian workers abroad is all the more ironic since these
2.7 million workers support families in villages across the country. Migrant
workers send some US$2.9 billion home each year.</p>
<p>A grim statistic from the Foreign Ministry highlights the dangers facing the
country’s migrant workers: more than 300 have died in the past 10 months.
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