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?
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said foreign workers were
treated the same as locals and legal action would be taken against any party
found to be abusing them.
<p>“We are a society of law and order and the judicial channels are open
to all, so foreign workers who are abused can report their employers to us and
we will take the necessary action.</p>
<p>“Nobody is above the law and anyone who flouts the law will be seriously
dealt with,” he told reporters yesterday after launching the sale of apartments
at Kinrara Mas in Puchong.</p>
<p>He was responding to a Jakarta Post report on Friday which quoted the Indonesian
Foreign Ministry’s director for Indonesian migrant workers protection,
Ferry Adamhar, as saying that there had been a rise in the number of reports
on the abuse of maids and workers in Malaysia.</p>
<p>Among other things, the report blamed the abuse on the lack of legal protection,
dishonest labour agencies and exploitative employers.</p>
<p>Dr Fong also said from Nov 15 Indonesians seeking jobs as general workers in
Malaysia would have to go through a half-day induction course and pass a test
before they were allowed to apply for work permits.</p>
<p>He said the course would cover the laws pertaining to foreign labour, their
rights, what they should do and which agencies to contact if they are abused
or taken advantage of and Malaysian regulations on occupational safety and health.
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