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?
Suaram has urged the police and Human Resources Ministry to investigate the claims of foreign workers being mistreated to the point that it sparked off a fiery protest in Kulai, Johor.
The rights group’s executive director Yap Swee Seng (left) said the company must be held accountable if the allegations were true.
“While Suaram does not condone violence, the authorities must address the root causes of the incident to avoid it from happening again.
“The basic human rights and labour rights of migrant workers must be protected so that they can work safely and live a dignified life while working in Malaysia,” Yap added in a statement.
Yap also pointed out that the inhumane treatment towards migrant labour workers is not uncommon in Malaysia.
He added that the workers were prone to be exploited through maximum working hours and lack of insurance protection, among others.
“They are vulnerable as a result of their desperation to repay the high amount of debt from recruitment agency, financial pressure from families back home, social discrimination and lack of access to justice and protection.
“Enforcement of labour laws on foreign workers is deplorable, especially in cases involving foreign workers injured while on duty and are not compensated,” he added.
Citing the recent incident where three Bangladeshi workers were killed at a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) work site and a riot in Taman Prindustrian Sawit Baru prompted by alleged deprivation of workers right, Yap said the incidents were just the “tip of the iceberg”.
“It merely unveiled the dangerous and grueling employment condition that is so ordinarily experienced by migrant labour workers,” he said.
He then urged the government to immediately ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Members of their Families.
“The government should stop being the stumbling block in the current negotiation of the Asean instrument on the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers.
“Migrant workers deserve better treatment and equal rights as any other human beings,” he added.
Source: Malaysiakini
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