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?
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants all issues concerning foreign workers to be resolved through a consensus between employers and workers’ union.
He said the government was always concerned about the demands of the two parties involved in the issue and would try its level best to help.
“The government has been asked (to help) by the employers, especially those in the construction, manufacturing and agriculture sectors, who were in need of foreign workers.
“However, certain quarters, such as the workers’ union and political parties are trying to politicise the issue,” he said at the Malaysian Employers Federation’s dinner in Subang Jaya, near here Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid also called on employers to provide basic facilities to their foreign workers and not to commit any abuse on them.
The deputy prime minister also said the new online system to handle the registration and monitoring of Bangladeshi workers, which the government recently announced, would prevent them from falling victims to middlemen.
“They are legal workers. After working for one or two years, the middlemen (agent) would not renew their permits and this will turn them into illegal workers,” he added.
Source: Bernama
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