Foreign workers locked up 24/7

Two single-storey, threeroom terrace houses in the quiet neighbourhood had
been used to keep at least 15 Bangladeshi workers locked up 24 hours a day.
<p>When we visited them on Friday with the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia,
we found the men desperate for help.</p>
<p>In the fi rst house, eight workers claimed they had been locked up for 23 days.</p>
<p>The run-down house was sparsely furnished and there were mats on the fl oor
for the men to sleep on.</p>
<p>One of the men, Anamul Haque, 29, said they did not even know their employer&#146;s
name, adding that they only met some people working for the employer.</p>
<p>Most had arrived in Malaysia recently, as they could barely speak a word of
Bahasa Malaysia. Only one could speak some English.</p>
<p>&#147;We thought we were going to work in factories, but when we arrived, we
were told there was no work and that some of us were medically unfi t. We have
been locked up here ever since,&#148; said Anamul, who claimed to be a teacher.</p>
<p>He said a local woman would come over three times a day to bring food for them.
She would push the food through the gaps in the grille.</p>
<p>&#147;The food is never enough and we&#146;re always hungry.</p>
<p>Some of us are unwell but they haven&#146;t given us any medicine.&#148; He
said there used to be up to 90 men in the house but they were taken out in batches
whenever there was work.</p>
<p>&#147;Why must they lock us up like this? We are so frustrated.&#148; In the
second house, in a lane behind the fi rst, seven Bangladeshi workers claimed
they had been locked up for 10 days.</p>
<p>Residents told Weekend Mail that the Bangladeshis had been held for months
and workers were regularly shipped out or new ones brought in.</p>
<p>A resident said the workers were initially not confi ned but had made a nuisance
of themselves, which may explain why their employer had decided to lock them
up.</p>
<p>Another said there are always different groups of men in both houses.</p>
<p>&#147;I used to give them bread and fruits but after some neighbours complained
that they were harassing the women in the area, I stopped.&#148; While talking
to the residents, a female &#145;caretaker&#146; for the workers drove up and
entered the compound of one of the &#145;prison homes&#146;, hurling abuse at
the men.</p>
<p>She claimed they were making up stories about being victimised and aside from
being locked up, they were well-taken care of.</p>
<p>&#147;You cakap macam ini lebih baik saya hantar kamu balik Bangladesh!,&#148;
she said to the men through the door.</p>
<p>She also insisted we speak to her &#145;boss&#146; for a clearer picture of
the situation. The man we spoke to on the phone claimed he was not their employer
but an employee in charge of foreign workers.</p>
<p>&#147;The men are not fi t to work and some are not interested to work, so
we are planning to send them back to Bangladesh.&#148; He said they were forced
to keep the men locked up as they were constantly disturbing residents in the
neighbourhood.</p>
<p>The man insisted we call a person named &#145;Hong&#146; whom he claimed was
the agent for the workers, but attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.</p>
<p>The female caretaker was the only person present when Seremban police arrived
at 2.40pm and released the men.</p>
<p>Seremban acting OCPD, Supt Ahmad Mahmud, said the operation was successful
but they were still investigating the matter.</p>
<p>Offi cial &#145;upset&#146; by report KUALA LUMPUR: The Bangladesh High Commission
labour councillor was upset when Weekend Mail informed him of the caged workers.</p>
<p>&#147;It&#146;s disappointing,&#148; said Talat Mahmud Khan, adding that the
High Commission works with the Home Ministry to help stranded workers.</p>
<p>&#147;We don&#146;t have the power to rescue these workers.</p>
<p>All we can do is alert the authorities. At times, the employer might not be
cooperative.</p>
<p>We would need the employers to return the workers&#146; passports and release
orders.&#148; Immigration Department enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed
said agents and employers bringing in foreign workers must submit the necessary
documents to the Home Ministry, including workers&#146; passports and medical
reports. Once approved, the department will issue calling visas.&#148; &#147;These
workers could have been cheated by rogue agents who could have promised them
jobs here,&#148; said Ishak, who added that he needed more information to ascertain
if the workers were here legally or not.</p>
<p>&#147;Some of these people could have been brought in on a social visit pass.</p>
<p>It is not right for me to comment without knowing the details.&#148;</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/Weekend/Frontpage/20070811231232/Article/index_html</i>