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?
Malaysia Nanban reported that former workers of Ladang Batu Kawan near Nibong
Tebal in Penang had staged a hunger strike in a bid to attract the attention
of the state government to resolve their problems.
<p>The daily said more than 70 families living in the estate complained that the
contractors had disconnected the power and water supply to pave the way for
a road project there recently. </p>
<p>They claimed that they were promised low-cost flats by the Penang Development
Corporation, which acquired the estate, but it did not fulfil the promise. </p>
<p>They also claimed that their elected representatives had pledged to resolve
the matter but they never did. </p>
<p>Tamil Nesan also reported Selayang MIC division chairman Senator Datuk M. Rethinam
as saying that 114 families who squatted on railway land in Sungai Buloh would
be relocated to low-cost houses soon. </p>
<p>He said letters for the units would be presented to the residents on Feb 14
and 15 in Rawang and Feb 16 and 17 at the community hall in Sungai Buloh New
Village. </p>
<p>On a related matter, Tamil Nesan reported National Union of Plantation Workers
of Kedah and Perlis secretary I. Sandanadas as saying that workers in 13 plantations
in Kedah were still using river and well water for their daily use. </p>
<p>The daily quoted him as saying that the union urged the state government to
look into the problem which had existed for far too long.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com