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?
KUALA LUMPUR (MALAYSIA), FEB 07 – At least 204 Nepalis have been reportedly arrested by the Malaysian authorities in the crackdown against illegal migrant workers since January 21.
According to Malaysian media reports, 2,959 migrant workers, including 204 Nepalis, have been arrested so far. One hundred and fifty three undocumented migrants were reportedly arrested from Kota Raya on Saturday alone.
Most of those arrested are Indonesian, Burmese and Bangladeshi nationals.
A Nepali business-owner at Kota Raya said a large number of illegal foreign labourers were apprehended by the people from the Department of Immigration, put in trucks and transported to detention centres.
It is learnt that the arrested migrant workers would be sent home within a week of the arrest. Officials at the Nepali Embassy in Malaysia, however, said the Malaysian authorities have not informed anything in this regard so far.
Meanwhile, around 6,000 illegal Nepali migrant workers are waiting to return home after acquiring the travel documents from the embassy.
Some of them have been waiting for months and they fear of arrest as the date on their travel documents is expiring in a few days.
Source: eKantipur
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