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?
EXPERTS’ GROUP DISCUSSION ON LABOUR MIGRATION ISSUES : WAGES DEDUCTION
MTUC was invited by the MOHR to participate in today’s group discussion together with MEF, World Bank, Government officials and Bar Council. The representatives from MTUC are Bro J Solomon, Secretary General, Bro Effendy,Financial Secretary and Bro Zul Thye, MTUC MRC Coordinator.
Today’s group discussion consists of four session and started with an opening remark by Puan Betty Hasan, Undersecretary of Policy Division,MOHR.
Session 1 – Job Changes for Documented Foreign Workers whereby the panel had discussed about the challenges and policy response around job changes for migrant workers. Speakers had presented the International standards and practise on the topic as well as employers and workers perspectives. Among the panel speakers are YBhg. Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, MEF Executive Director and Mr Nillim Baruah, Senior Migration Specialist, ILO.
Session 2 – Reducing Irregular Migration. The panel speakers are Mr Achim Daniel, Senior Economist from World Bank and Mr Nillim Baruah, ILO. The discussions are held to seek ways to reduce irregular migration,including effective regularization. Findings and recomendations of the independent committee on the topics are shared.
Session 3 – Wage Protection – Bro J Solomon was among the panel speakers together with Encik Rhymie Ramli, Labour Department,JTKSM and Mr Daniel Kostzer, Senior Wage Specialist,ILO. The discussion for this session was on wage protection and principles underlying any wage deduction. Bro J Solomon in his presentation, had stressed that MTUC will not agree to any wage deduction on migrant workers without any contribution from employers for savings as it is now practiced for local workers.
The employers need to find ways and means to retain them and identify why migrant workers are absconding their original employer as their primary objective is to earn a decent wage.
There must be an effort to eliminate recruitment agencies who are charging exorbitant fees from employers for recruitment of migrant workers instead of victimising the weaker migrant workers.
The final session are about Regional Practises in financial intervention to prevent overstay where the panel are sharing regional experiences in repatriation cost insurance and other financial intervention to promote return.
MTUC has reiterated that there should be no discrimination to migrant workers in Malaysia since Malaysians are also migrant workers in other countries.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com