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?
Police are investigating a Malaysian couple for murder after their maid, Kunasir,
24, was found dead on Tuesday night. Her body showed signs of beating, they
said.
<p>It came a day after another Indonesian maid climbed out of the window of a
high-rise apartment in Kuala Lumpur to escape her abusive employer.</p>
<p>"The woman is now with us," said Indonesian embassy official Eka
Suripto.</p>
<p>"We have been talking with her employer and as she (employer) has not
been willing to admit the abuses, the police are now investigating the case."</p>
<p>"We have seen an increase in abuses involving our nationals. I don’t think
we have seen the end of the tunnel yet, and we have asked them (authorities
in Malaysia) to speed up cases involving our nationals," Suripto said.</p>
<p><b>300,000 Indonesian maids</b></p>
<p>Malaysia relies heavily on foreign workers for menial jobs, and Suripto said
about 300,000 Indonesian maids are employed here.</p>
<p>While local authorities have denied abuses are on the rise, many Indonesian
maids run away from their employers every month.</p>
<p>The Indonesian embassy said more than 1,000 abused or unpaid workers seek refuge
in its compound every year.</p>
<p>- AFP</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/71268</i>
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