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?
It was 1.15am and the team quickly moved silently to the entrances of the three
lodges to nab illegal foreigners.
<p>With a hand signal from one of the team leaders, the officers rushed up the
stairs. </p>
<p>Moments later, doors were forced open and ceiling panels were removed to see
if anyone was hiding under the roof. </p>
<p>By 2am, 38 foreigners were lined up and Immigration officials began checking
their documents. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Philippines Government has set up a one-stop centre to help
its citizens, who have been repatriated, return to Malaysia as legal migrant
workers. </p>
<p>Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the centre in Bongau
had been in operation since early January. </p>
<p>He said the centre was to expedite the process of legalising those who had
been working here without documents, especially in Sabah.</p>
<p>"The repatriation, which is voluntary, is being done properly and in a
humane way," he added. </p>
<p>Romulo said there were now about 100,000 Filipino workers, both legal and illegal
in Malaysia, based on a census conducted five years ago in Sabah. </p>
<p>He was speaking at a press conference after visiting Home Minister Datuk Azmi
Khalid at his ministry here yesterday. </p>
<p>At the meeting, Azmi and Romulo discussed the issues of foreign workers in
Malaysia and the repatriation of illegal workers. </p>
<p>On the matter of 42 expatriates who were detained during Ops Tegas, Azmi said
they had been released as they were professionals. </p>
<p>"They have applied for professional passes and apparently the company
had engaged them before approval of the passes. </p>
<p>"We have proof that they have applied for the passes earlier, so they
have been released," he said. </p>
<p>On Tuesday, the expatriates – 24 French nationals, four Britons, two Americans,
two Croatians, two Italians, one Filipino and seven Indonesians – were detained.
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