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?
A public-listed company that had its factory torched by disgruntled workers in Kulai last night said today the damages are “minimal” and will not affect its business.
“JCY International Berhad is of the view that the damages to the factory and properties of the company and its subsidiaries do not pose any material impact on the financial performance and financial position of the group,” it said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia.
The company also said there would be no disruption in its other business operations and would be negotiating a settlement with the workers involved in the incident.
“The company is currently taking active steps and measures to address the matter and to reach an amicable settlement with the workers.”
Meanwhile, Kulaijaya District deputy police chief DSP Mohd Idris Samsuri when contacted by Malaysiakini said the number of people detained in the incident has grown to 44 from 39 earlier today.
No report of abuse
Asked about allegations that a supervisor forced the workers to play “volleyball with stones”, prompting the violence, Idris said there has been no report about this.
“We have received no news on the manager mistreating the staff. The only reason we know for now is the workers were unhappy with the management’s way of handling them,” he said.
Idris added that the management and workers are now in negotiations, with the Nepali embassy, which is acting as a translator and mediator.
Yesterday, hundreds of enraged workers at the factory rioted by throwing stones and torching a car belonging to a management staff.
The situation further intensified, when part of the factory was torched last night.
According to Bernama, 75 Federal Reserve Unit and 50 police personnel were deployed to control the situation.
KAMLES KUMAR is a trainee journalist at Malaysiakini.
Source: Malaysiakini
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