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?
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two estates were part of five estates ear-marked for property development and
following that Prominent Acres entered into negotiations with their employees
in 1995 to seek their voluntary eviction.</P><P>Under the agreement, the workers
were to be retrenched with benefits and as part of the negotiations, they were
given a choice – take the money and ‘run’ or use the money as deposit
for the low cost houses to be built at the Jalan Acob Estate in Klang which Prominent
Acres will assist in securing.
<P>The cost of the houses were in accordance
to Selangor state government guidelines on low cost homes and in addition they
were given further discounts on the houses.</P><P>Negotiating and signing on the
behalf of the workers was their union NUPW and on June 26, 1998 a memorandum was
signed between the Prominent Acres and NUPW.</P><P>Eight years down the road however,
the workers came in for a shock. Instead of low-cost terraced houses, they were
given flats.</P><P>Some took the flats, while others stood their ground and refused
to move. They took their grievances to the courts and are awaiting judgment.</P><P><B>Water
supply cut</B></P><P>According to the workers, NUPW which represented them failed
to explain the details of the memorandum to them and feel that they have been
misled by their union.</P><P>In the meantime, the 100 affected families continued
to live at the estate, but in November this year, Prominent Acres requested that
Syarikat Bekalan Ayer Selangor Sdn Bhd to cut water supplies to their quarters.</P><P>In
response, the families submitted a memorandum to the company and the Malaysian
Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), claiming that their rights have been eroded
and that the company had acted irresponsibly and inhumanely in cutting the water
supply.</P><P>The action also contravened clause 6 of the June 1998 memorandum
which guaranteed that they can continue living in the quarters until housing for
them was completed.</P><P>Malaysiakini.tv met with some of the affected people
to hear their story and also spoke to Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s V Selvam
who has been helping them present their woes to those who might be able to help
solve their predicament.</P><P>We also spoke to V Taamasegaran, the Selangor branch
secretary of NUPW for their version of the story.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com