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?
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) reported 110 cases
of work-related diseases as of June in the public sector, compared with nine
in 2006, while Sosco recorded 194 such cases in the private sector in 2005,
10 more from the previous year.
<p>Socso paid out a total of RM16bil last year for employment injury and invalidity,
with about 1% of these were for work-related diseases. </p>
<p>Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said employers, however,
remained unaware of the dangers faced by their workers from conditions at work.
</p>
<p>“We have received reports that some workers, as a result of prolonged
exposure to certain chemicals in their offices, have even developed cancer."
</p>
<p>" But bosses tend to focus their occupational and safety health issues
on preventing accidents. So, there is a real lack of awareness on work-related
diseases." </p>
<p>“Because such diseases usually develop four or five years after exposure,
we have to examine all the complaints carefully,” he told reporters after
launching the Occupational Safety and Health Convention at the Putrajaya International
Convention Centre here Tuesday. </p>
<p>Dr Fong also warned bosses that if they were found to be in breach of guidelines
on workplace standards, they could be liable for prosecution. </p>
<p>“In addition, DOSH will also be asked to enhance its enforcement on issues
like indoor air quality and globally harmonised system, which deals with the
classification and labelling of chemicals,” he said, adding that the ministry
also hoped to have 10,000 DOSH officers working in companies by the year 2010
as a measure to put Malaysia in better ranking on workplace accidents. </p>
<p>Malaysia currently has a ratio of 5.83 cases of workplace accidents for every
1,000 workers, and hopes to bring this down to the level of developed nations
like Japan, which has around two cases for every 1,000 workers.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/17/nation/20070717165133&sec=nation</i>
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