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?
Speaking at a three-day seminar in Johor, NUPW secretary-general Datuk G. Sankaran
said the managements should provide basic facilities and upgrade the living
conditions in estates.
<p>Sankaran said many employers preferred to employ women workers as they worked
with dedication and efficiency. </p>
<p>"Thus the employers must provide appropriate safety measures, such as
proper equipment and clothes, as these workers are required to handle pesticides
and weed killers," he said. </p>
<p>He also spoke on the problems faced by single mothers, eligibility of accident
claims from Socso, and members who failed to appoint nominees for their EPF
contributions. </p>
<p>Tamil Nesan carried an article, which could interest Malaysians who are ardent
followers of the famed Indian Thirukkural which promotes universal values. </p>
<p>It said the first world conference on Thirukkural, composed by the famous Tamil
poet Thiruvalluvar about 2,040 years ago, would be held in Malaysia from June
17 to 19. </p>
<p>Thirukkural contains 1,300 poems in stanza form and does not base its theme
on any language, race, religion or culture. </p>
<p>"It stresses on the human values universally. This anthology has already
been translated into more than 100 languages," the report added. </p>
<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will open the conference, where
an exhibition on the 100-year-old history of Malaysian Tamils will be the highlight.
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