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 Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH) has cleared a sawmill in Kedah over a several deaths among its foreign workers.
The deaths were most likely alcohol-related and not due to hazardous materials in the factory, as activists suspect, Kedah DOSH director Mohamad Jais Suratman told Malaysiakini.
“The victims died while in the workers hostel and outside working hours. Investigations found that bottles of alcoholic drinks were scattered around the place of death.
“Following the probe, we conclude that there is no evidence that this is linked to occupational health and safety,” Mohamad Jais said in a statement to Malaysiakini, one month after the last reported death.
However, he did not respond to Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s claim that the last death on Jan 11 could have been avoided if the sawmill supervisor had provided medical aid.
According to a report in The Star, 200 Nepali workers demonstrated at the sawmill in Pokok Sena for two hours before being dispersed.
Kota Setar police Traffic and Public Order chief Mat Akhir Jaafar confirmed that three men were arrested to facilitate investigations.
Mat Akhir also said the three deaths – all involving Nepali workers – have been classified as ‘sudden deaths’.
PSM lodged a police report, saying that negligence led to the death of at least one of three workers.
Malaysiakini contacted the sawmill several times on this matter last month, but the sawmill has not responded.
Source: Malaysiakini
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com