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?
According to a high-ranking government official, the proposed MoU will be forwarded
to both the governments for further discussion. "If things go as plan,
the MoU could be signed within a month," said the official.
<p>As per the proposed MoU, government will set up a special fund for Nepali laborers
working in Malaysia to replace a two percent service tax being slapped on foreign
employment agencies since last year, said Keshar Bahadur Baniya director general
of Department of Labor and Employment Promotion (DoLEP), talking to The Kathmandu
Post.</p>
<p>“Nepal government has agreed to set up Foreign Employment Welfare Fund
from certain fees collected from job aspirants to Malaysia," said Baniya
adding that the fund will be used for the welfare of those workers who are in
the need of urgent assistance.</p>
<p>A Malaysian delegation led by director general at Malaysia’s Ministry of Human
Resource Thomas George was in the capital to negotiate the final draft of MoU
with the concerned Nepali authorities at Ministry of Labor and Transport Management
(MoLTM) on Thursday.</p>
<p>Once signed, the MoU will enable Nepali workers to get legal status as enjoyed
by other foreign workers in Malaysia, according to Baniya.</p>
<p>“Nepali workers will get all legal rights guaranteed by Malaysian Workers
Act 1952,” said Baniya adding that it will lessen the chance of Nepali
worker being exploited by employers.</p>
<p>The MoU has also incorporated a provision to eliminate unscrupulous middlemen
between Nepali manpower agencies and employers in Malaysia.</p>
<p>“Since the MoU will minimize the chance of exorbitant commission being
charged by middlemen, the cost of getting a job there will be go down,"
he said. The MOU has also incorporated a provision under which an aspirant Nepali
workers need to have workable knowledge on English or Malay language, to reduce
the chance of Nepali workers being cheated due to lack of proper communication
skills.</p>
<p>Both sides have agreed to form a committee to deal with the possibility of
submitting fake heath certificates. Malaysia is the most popular destination
for Nepali workers. Over last eleven months, Malaysia has hosted 64,455 Nepali
workers.</p>
<p>Posted on: 2007-07-05 21:35:55 (Server Time)</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?nid=114952</i>
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