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?
These “express amah” are promised they would be given genuine work
permits once they are settled with an employer but often, the women are transferred
from one household to another and do not get paid since the wages due to them
are kept by the racketeers.
<p>“I have changed employers five times but up to now neither have I been
given any wages nor be given the promised work permit,” said 41-year-old
Bibik (not her real name). </p>
<p>She claimed an agent in her homeland said she needed only to come to Malaysia
as a tourist and as soon as a job was found for her, the agent’s counterpart
in Malaysia would proceed to get her a job permit. </p>
<p>The paper reported that the syndicate would receive between RM1,500 and RM3,000
from prospective employers for each maid procured. </p>
<p>The racket surfaced after a teacher from Terengganu reported to the Foreign
Workers Service and Counselling Centre (PPKPA) that she had yet to receive a
passport and work permit for her maid after more than a month. </p>
<p>The teacher, identified only as Che Yah, 40, claimed she obtained the maid
from a woman named ‘Leha’, who she believed was part of the syndicate
that operated from Gombak, Selangor. </p>
<p>PPKPA managing director Ismail Haidar advised those who felt they had been
duped by the syndicate or had information about its operations to contact the
centre at 03-2697 7000.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com