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?
Anne Muhammad
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) continues its clamp down against union members, sacking eight more Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya (RUM) members yesterday.
Fifteen more were suspended from work, RUM president Abdul Razak Md Hassan (left) said when contacted.
“110 KTMB workers have been given show-cause letters,” he said.
The 110 workers may face the same fate as their colleagues, he said, as they were identified by KTMB to have participated in the picket last May.
Criticising KTMB’s actions, human rights NGO Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) said the move was unnecessary as RUM had made valid demands for the betterment of the organisation and workers’ welfare.
“It is not proper for KTMB to sack the leadership of the union. We are in solidarity with the union’s leadership and its members and we denounce KTMB’s action,” it said in a statement yesterday.
Abdul Razak and RUM deputy president R Subramaniam were sacked on Aug 29.
Last Friday, three more KTMB workers were sacked without notice.
The picket on May 9 was held to pressure KTMB president Elias Kadir to resign following the company’s dismal performance during his tenure.
Source: Malaysiakini
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