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 Cabinet, in its weekly meeting Wednesday imposed the freeze on the intake of foreign workers from Bangladesh with immediate effect, but those who have already submitted their applications would be getting their workers as promised.
<p>Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, in announcing this, said
the lackadaisical attitude of employers and local agents, especially in picking
up the workers upon arrival had created a big problem for the authorities. </p>
<p>The minister said the problem was also because agents in Bangladesh, who he
claimed to have been splurging massive amounts of money and collaborating with
local agents to get as many Bangladeshis to gain employment here, adding social
problems created by the foreign workers were also one the reasons for the freeze.
</p>
<p>“The employers and local agents take the easy way out when it comes to
picking up their employees. If the workers arrive on days close to the weekend
or long holidays, they will conveniently not pick the workers up, knowing the
workers are in safe hands, will be well taken care of and fed. </p>
<p>“Since there are too many problems arising from employing workers from
Bangladesh, we have decided to freeze the exercise again,” he told reporters
after chairing his ministry’s post Cabinet meeting Wednesday.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/3/nation/20071003175012&sec=nation</i>
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