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?
"You can walk into our offices without fear," said its enforcement
director Datuk Ishak Mohamed, adding that every assistance will be given to
those who come forward voluntarily.
<p>"However, if you are caught in our raids, you face legal action as we
will charge you with misusing your work permit."</p>
<p>He said there are about 1.7 million legal foreign workers in the country but
could not estimate how many are being outsourced.</p>
<p>"More and more such cases, however, are coming up and this is worrying."</p>
<p>Ishak urged migrant workers to check their documents and verify who they are
supposed to work for and where.</p>
<p>"In every Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) (Reg.11(10)) sticker, each
migrant worker’s designation and work address are clearly stated.</p>
<p>"If the situation does not tally with what is on the sticker, chances
are the person may be committing an Immigration offence and can be charged for
it."</p>
<p>Ishak made the call following non-governmental organisations’ (NGOs) plea that
migrant workers who have been outsourced by employers not be charged as they
had no say in the matter. The NGOs, especially Tenaganita, have been calling
for the authorities to book errant employers instead.</p>
<p>One example is the case of 39 Indian nationals charged in court three weeks
ago after being caught working at a factory in Shah Alam when their permit stated
they were supposed to work for another company in Seri Kembangan. The factory
has also been charged. Hearing is on-going.</p>
<p>The Immigration Department is also awaiting instructions from the Deputy Public
Prosecutor’s (DPP) office to charge the Seri Kembangan-based company that brought
the workers into Malaysia.</p>
<p>The 39 men from Tamil Nadu pleaded guilty but NGOs said they should not have
been charged in the first place as they were ignorant of Malaysian laws and
had been sent to work by their original employers.</p>
<p>Ishak said the department is taking measures to ensure that migrant workers
are not taken for a ride by unscrupulous entrepreneurs, especially local companies
and employment agents.</p>
<p>Ishak advised those who need clarification to call the enforcement unit at
the department headquarters at 03-88801000.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com