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 “Workers’ Rights are Human Rights” rally by the Malaysia Trades Union Congress (MTUC) on Tuesday, 1 May, was a roaring success with more than 1,500 workers converging to form a sea of red that flowed around the perimeters of Wisma MTUC in USJ 9, Subang, akin to a carnival atmosphere.
This year, the Labour Day rally was especially historical because for the first time, national workers commemorated this special workers’ occasion in solidarity with migrant workers in the country and workers representatives from neighbouring Batam. Migrant workers who participated in the rally were from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia and Nepal.
Arriving in busses from all over the Peninsular, workers left their homes before the crack of dawn not with the allure of cash incentives or allowances. Workers are now aware that the welfare of national workers is only just a little bit superior to that of the migrant workers.
Work to organise, what eventually became the largest rally put together by MTUC in the last 10-years, only started two weeks before 1 May when the original Labour Day organising committee declared that it could not organise an event this year.
The event organising chairman who is also the Migrant Resource Centre coordinator Zulfadlee Thye Abdullah said the event was organised to commemorate workers, for the betterment of workers, by the workers and for the workers.
He was closely assisted by Rudy Rusli, General Secretary of Club Employees Union, Bro Soma Asst Secretary of MTUC, Bro Faisal Hussin, Secretary of MTUC KL/Selangor Division and others.
MTUC Secretary General J Solomon, commended the hard work and efficiency of the Organising Committee led by its Chairman Zulfadlee Thye Abdullah who pulled of a successful event within a short period of time and extended his appreciation to all affiliates who came with their members and NGOs who came with the the migrant workers.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com