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?
Its labour councillor, Talat Mahmud Khan, also said the five workers previously
reported missing, had not disappeared. Instead, they had been detained by the
police.
<p>These assurances, however, were disputed by the Malaysian Centre for Service
and Counselling for Foreign Workers (PPKPA), a foreign worker welfare group.</p>
<p>PPKPA vice-chairman Amir Ibra- him, who had highlighted the plight of the workers
on June 19, claimed the workers had been intimidated and coached into saying
that they were well taken care of by their agent.</p>
<p>However, the agent, who did not wish to be identified, denied abusing the workers.</p>
<p>He also claimed that two of the five workers were not missing but had been
sent for counselling while one of them was ill. "Only one worker told his
supervisor that he was going out and has not been seen since."</p>
<p>The agent also claimed that allegations of abuse could have come from a neighbouring
hostel.</p>
<p>On June 19, the NST reported that a group of 3<font color="#FF0000">0</font>0
workers had complained to the PPKPA of maltreatment at the hands of their agent.</p>
<p><b>Related stories: <BR>
<a href="http://www.labourcentre.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=888">Starved,
beaten and forced to work for pittance</a></b> (2007/06/19)<b>
</b><BR>
<b><a href="http://www.labourcentre.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=938%20">5
go missing after lodging complaint</a></b> (2007/06/26)
<p><i>Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/20070628084318/Article</i>
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