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?
Cheng Pei Ee, 29, could face the death penalty if found guilty of killing 24-year-old
Kunasir, whose beaten body was found on August 14.
<p>The New Straits Times newspaper reported that Cheng’s husband, 34-year-old
Goo Eng Keng, was accused of trying to cover up the crime.</p>
<p>The Indonesian government last week upped the pressure on Malaysia to take
swift action against abusive employers, saying too many Indonesian maids were
being mistreated in Malaysia.</p>
<p>Another case</p>
<p>In another recent case, an Indonesian maid climbed out of the window of a high-rise
apartment in Kuala Lumpur to escape a violent employer.</p>
<p>Malaysia relies heavily on foreign workers for menial jobs, and Jakarta’s embassy
here says about 300,000 Indonesian maids are employed in the country.</p>
<p>While local authorities have denied abuses are on the rise, the Indonesian
embassy said more than 1,000 abused or unpaid workers seek refuge in its compound
every year.</p>
<p>Tensions between the neighbouring countries have been rising recently, with
an alleged assault on a karate referee by Malaysian police last week sparking
protests outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta yesterday.<br>
– AFP</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/71791</i>
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