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?
Home Minister Azmi Khalid said the cabinet approved the new procedure at its
weekly meeting aimed to ease the chronic shortage of workers after Malaysia
launched a controversial crackdown to expel hundreds of thousands of illegal
migrants from poverty-hit Asian countries in March.
<p>The repatriation of about 400,000 illegal immigrants, mainly low-wage Indonesian
workers, during a four-month amnesty that ended in March left a yawning labour
gap in the agricultural, construction, manufacturing and services sectors.</p>
<p><b>Fingerprints to be taken</b></p>
<p>Azmi said biometric equipment would be installed at immigration offices throughout
the country to verify the fingerprints of former illegal immigrants who may
return to look for employment.</p>
<p>The cabinet accepted the procedure as the worker shortage in the country could
become more serious if action was delayed, he said.</p>
<p>Malaysia is one of the largest importers of foreign labour in Asia. Foreign
workers, both legal and illegal, number about 2.6 million of its 10.5 million
workforce, officials say.
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