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?
Under the ruling, which takes effect on Monday, employers who fail to collect
their workers within the stipulated time-frame would be fined RM30 for every
hour of delay.
<p>Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the fine, provisioned
for under the Immigration Act, was necessary as many employers treat the matter
lightly and sometimes leave their workers at Immigration checkpoints for days.</p>
<p>The ruling is applicable to both employers who bring workers in themselves
and outsource companies.</p>
<p>"We have seen groups of workers waiting for their employers for days …
it is a pitiful sight … they cannot even bathe and they stink up the whole
place," said Radzi.</p>
<p>"The fine imposed will make employers behave more responsibly towards
their workers.</p>
<p>"Imagine if they bring in 100 workers … if they are fined for the first
hour after the grace period is over, they will have to fork out RM3,000 before
they could collect their workers," Radzi told reporters.</p>
<p>After the three-hour deadline, the Immigration Department will relocate the
uncollected workers to a special holding depot.</p>
<p>For those arriving at the KL International Airport, they will be relocated
to the depot near the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang.</p>
<p>The department, Radzi said, would determine on a case-to- case basis the maximum
duration for uncollected workers to remain at the depot before they were sent
home.
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