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 yesterday, imposed the freeze on the intake
of foreign workers from Bangladesh with immediate effect.
<p><img src="images/news/2007/n_01workers2.jpg" width="200" height="444" align="right">However,
those who have already submitted their applications would get their workers
as promised. </p>
<p>Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, in announcing this, said
that the lackadaisical attitude of employers and local agents, especially in
picking up the workers upon arrival, had created a big problem.</p>
<p>The minister said that the problem was exacerbated by agents in Bangladesh,
who had collaborated with local agents to bring to Malaysia as many Bangladeshis
as possible. </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 yesterday. </p>
<p>In 1999, the Government banned employing foreign workers from Bangladesh, apparently
due to the many “social problems” created by their presence. </p>
<p>Radzi said that the problem of stranded Bangladeshi workers had eased somewhat
because of the new ruling by the Immigration Department. </p>
<p>If the employers fail to pick them up at the KL International Airport within
24 hours, the workers will be moved to the Immigration depot where they will
be kept for 72 hours before being deported. </p>
<p>“Somehow, the new ruling works. Employers and agents seem to be very reluctant
to deal with authorities at the depot. Having their workers sent home also means
more expenses for them,” he added. </p>
<p>Radzi said that the situation at the KLIA car park, which at one point housed
2,000 newly-arrived Bangladeshi workers, had improved with the number at 600
as of yesterday.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/4/nation/19073421&sec=nation</i>
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