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?
Fong said the 900 ringgit monthly minimum wage demanded by Malaysian unions
is higher than the average wage in neighbouring countries.
<p>He said it is a mistake to believe that a minimum wage rule will mean more
jobs for Malaysians as it will also apply to the 1.5 million foreign workers
who are in the country legally.</p>
<p>’It’s only a myth as foreigners will be flooding our land for jobs with many
(locals), especially in rural areas, being deprived of jobs,’ Fong was quoted
saying by local daily newspaper New Straits Times.</p>
<p>Thousands of workers, led by the country’s largest union group, Malaysian Trades
Union Congress (MTUC) staged a nation-wide protest last week to demand the government
fix a 900 ringgit monthly minimum wage.</p>
<p>According to the MTUC, wages of plantation, textile and garment and hotel workers
in Malaysia remain below 400 ringgit a month.</p>
<p>About 7 million workers will benefit from a minimum wage rule, union officials
said.</p>
<p>Malaysia is one of Asia’s largest importers of labour, with foreign workers
both legal and illegal making up about 2.6 million of the country’s 10.5 million
workforce.</p>
<p>AFX News Limited 2007</p>
<p><i>http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/07/03/afx3879802.html</i>
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