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 Government is always playing hot and cold. With regards to bringing in foreign workers, they say today it’s possible, then tomorrow they say it’s not.
<p>“This is causing havoc to our planning where human resources is concerned,” said executive director Samsudin Baradan. </p>
<p>He said companies conduct long-term planning and targetted their sources of
labour.</p>
<p>Changes every year or two, he added, disrupts the planning. </p>
<p>“This is exactly the kind of ad hoc policy that we do not want. And we
have made it known to the Government,” he said when contacted. </p>
<p>Samsudin also noted that these ad-hoc changes in policy on employing foreign
workers happened all too often. </p>
<p>He pointed out that at one time it was the Indonesian workers, another time
it was the Bangladeshis as they caused social problems and then there was a
policy change yet again which made it okay to hire them and now again a ban.
</p>
<p>“This is not good for the country in terms of long-term investment,”
he said. </p>
<p>He said the Bangladeshi workers were well spread out in the different sectors
including plantation, services, and furniture manufacturing. </p>
<p>Samsudin said that the MEF president Datuk Azlan Shah Harun would be raising
this issue through Pemudah – the special task force set up by the Government
to facilitate business and improve the public delivery system. </p>
<p>In Penang, the ban on Bangladeshi workers was welcomed as it served the interest
of both the foreigners and Malaysia. </p>
<p>Outsourcing company IRC Global Search (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Michael
Heah said the move was good for Malaysia as it would reduce the immigration
problems of Bangladeshis get stranded here without a job. </p>
<p>It also protected Bangladeshis who forked out big amounts – about RM8,000
to RM13,000 – to agents as a recruitment fee for them to come to Malaysia,
he said. </p>
<p>Heah said that there were now 212 outsourcing companies in Malaysia, and some
companies brought Bangladeshis in without securing a job for them. </p>
<p>“There should be a job employment contract ready before they can bring
them in,” he said. </p>
<p>A director of a machinery and steel company, who only wished to be known as
Yeoh, however, feared that the ruling would affect the supply of skilled manpower.
</p>
<p>“The Bangladeshis are quite competent, they have the necessary skills,
and are hardworking,” he said. </p>
<p>He added that his company employed close to 50 Bangladeshis who make up 15%
of his total workforce. </p>
<p>Chin Well Holdings Bhd senior manager Richard Yeap said that the Government
should view applications on a case-by-case basis and not impose a blanket freeze.
</p>
<p>“Stop the outsourcing, that’s where the main problem is,” he
said. </p>
<p>He said that about 45% of the steel fastener’s workforce of 400 were Bangladeshis.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/4/nation/19075262&sec=nation</i>
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