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?
IPS News
Anil Netto
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (IPS) – Trade unions
from the United States have joined forces with their Malaysian counterparts to
strongly oppose ongoing negotiations for bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs)
until workers’ concerns are first addressed.
The Daily Star
Sun. January 21, 2007
Malaysia is going to start importing
Bangladeshi farm workers from this week, according to a Kuala Lumpur-based non-governmental
organisation working for safeguarding the interests of expatriate Bangladeshis.
The Nation
By BSS, Dhaka
Sat, 20 Jan 2007, 09:27:00
Bangladesh can export huge agricultural labourers to Malaysia by spending only Taka 40,000 per head.
Malaysiakini.com
Jan 18, 07 4:16pm
Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz has said she doubts negotiations
for a free-trade deal with the United States will meet a July deadline, with talks bogged down in sensitive areas.
Sun2Surf
Daniel Chandranayagam
03:53PM Thu, 18 Jan 2007
Not many people are aware that the Employment Act 1955 (Revised
1981 Act 265) (the EA) exists. Of those who do, few know if they are protected
by the statute, or exactly what kind of protection it affords to employees in
general. Now, newspaper reports claim that employers have called for provisions
under the EA to be amended so that hiring and firing of workers will be made easier.
Jan 18th 2007 | BANGKOK
From The Economist print edition
More and more South-East Asians are leaving home to seek work
New Straits Times
Annie Freeda Cruez
17 Jan 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is losing its productivity edge
because workers are taking medical leave for long periods. And many young skilled
workers, the prime movers of the economy, are off work due to injury and disease.
Business Times
January 17 2007
THE Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has strongly objected
to the retrenchment fund mooted by the Ministry of Human Resources.
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