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?
Sarawak Immigration Department director Datuk Robert Lian Labang said although
the problem was not serious, steps should now be taken to hire local workers
as part of their national duty.
<p>"The cost of labour may be cheap but they must remember the hefty fines
and legal consequences that could be faced by errant employers," he told
reporters after the department’s "Setia Khas" staff gathering here
Wednesday.</p>
<p>On the number of illegal immigrants working in Sarawak, he said the actual
figure could not be determined but it was not less than 50,000, with mostly
coming from Indonesia.</p>
<p>"As for legal immigrants working in the various sectors in Sarawak, up
to now there are a total of 180,000 of them working mostly in the manufacturing
and plantation sectors," he said.</p>
<p>On enforcement, he said the introduction of the biometrics registration system
since January this year had made enforcement operations more effective.</p>
<p>He said the system had been installed at the Kuching International Airport
(KIA), Semuja Detention Camp and the enforcement unit here.</p>
<p>"With this system, we can easily detect repeat offenders, especially illegal
immigrants with criminal records that try to enter Sarawak," he said, adding
that the system would recognise their criminal background through their fingerprints.
— BERNAMA
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