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?
India’s Minister
for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi, whose portfolio was created to help
address the needs of the proliferating Indian diaspora worldwide, said that reports
about the treatment of some Indian visitors and workers in Malaysia were "very
disturbing".
<P>In recent months, there had been a number of reports of
Indian nationals being allegedly mistreated by their employers such as being subjected
to poor living conditions and paid lower than what had been promised.</P><P>"We’ve
asked the Malaysian government for assistance in respecting the rights of Indian
workers and visitors in Malaysia.</P><P>"I had personally discussed the issue
with Malaysian government representatives in the past," Ravi told Bernama
here Thursday.</P><P>Saying that he was "deeply concerned" over the
situation of some Indian nationals in Malaysia, he added that the Malaysian government
had agreed to hold formal talks on devising ways and means of protecting the interests
of Indian nationals in Malaysia.</P><P>"I’ve been told that the Malaysian
government is planning to set up a special office in Chennai that will look into
questions pertaining to the rights of Indian nationals working in Malaysia,"
he added.</P><P>– BERNAMA</P><P><I>Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=266448</I>
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