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 unhappy worker, 60-year-old Maidin Kutty Ali who retired last year after
having worked for more than 22 years, took the case to a labour court here.</p>
<p>To his relief, the Selangor labour court decided that the company must make
the payment in one lump sum.
<p>Maidin’s gratuity entitlement was RM45,121.79 when he retired last year.</p>
<p>The Shah Alam-based company, Crown Worldwide Movers Sdn Bhd, paid him RM6,000
and told him that the balance would be paid over 85 months.</p>
<p>Dissatisfied with the arrangement, Maidin approached the Malaysian Trades Union
Congress to file a case at the Port Klang labour court in February this year.</p>
<p>Following a hearing, the Selangor labour court in Subang Jaya made a decision
on Sept 4, ordering the company to pay the balance in one lump sum.</p>
<p>As the company had paid the installments for the first half of this year, they
have to settle the balance of RM36,360 by the end of this month.</p>
<p>Maidin joined the company in June 1983 as an operations supervisor and his
last held position was as operations co-ordinator. His last drawn salary was
RM2,000.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com