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?
"We made efforts to solve the problem but the Malaysian immigration department
seems adamant in its decision to deport the laborers," Hari Krishna Shrestha,
charge d’affaires at the Nepali Embassy said on Tuesday. "The department
has carried out necessary work to deport them." He said he did not know
the exact date for deportation.
<p>Local police last week had detained 42 Nepali workers from two factories located
in Johor, a southern province of the country, charging them with involvement
in a scuffle with their employers, and the police. The Nepalis were employed
in an electronic company and a plastics company.</p>
<p>"Malaysia takes manhandling of police as a very serious matter,"
Shrestha said. He added that Malaysian immigration officials have alleged that
the Nepali laborers "barged into the company premises to manhandle their
employers and the police".</p>
<p>Those to be deported worked at the electronics company while the plastics company
has agreed to retain the remaining detainees, Shrestha said. According to him
the Malaysian government has intensified crackdown on illegal immigrants and
those involved in "criminal offences". Around 150 Nepali workers are
languishing in five detention centers in Malaysia under various charges.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?nid=116268</i>
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