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?
Its director Irene Fernandez noted that the government would have to foot the
bill in rounding up undocumented persons, meeting the cost of their upkeep at
detention centres and taking them to court.
<p>"It is a fact that Malaysia needs migrant workers. Recent statements by
employers requesting the government to expand the sectors for foreign workers
and the setting up of centres in Indonesia are indicators," she said in
a statement.</p>
<p>"The only problem they face is that they do not have proper papers or
documents to legalise their stay."</p>
<p>She said the simplest and most cost effective approach would be for the government
to register undocumented persons currently in Malaysia, with co-operation from
the immigration department and diplomatic missions.</p>
<p>The government’s move to arrest and deport foreigners without proper travel
documents – the majority of them Indonesians, Burmese, Filipinos, Bangladeshis
and Indians – has been criticised by human rights organisations.</p>
<p>The use of half a million police and civilian volunteers to spearhead the operations
has caused concern that there may be abuse of power and vigilantism.</p>
<p>However the home ministry declared today that the crackdown – which has been
postponed twice – will take a softer approach for now. Undocumented persons
will be ‘advised’ to return to their countries and return with valid documents.</p>
<p><b>Unstable conditions</b></p>
<p>Tenaganita also called on the government to complement the recent outpouring
of Malaysian financial and humanitarian help for nations affected by the Dec
26 tsunami.</p>
<p>"As Malaysians, we say we have a heart and this was very well expressed
in the support developed for the tsunami survivors," Fernandez said.</p>
<p>"The same humane sense and expression needs to prevail for the undocumented
workers. It is clear the workers cannot go back home as they have nothing left."</p>
<p>Fernandez also highlighted the emergency rule imposed on Nepal and strife in
Indonesia’s Aceh province as examples of instability in some countries of origin.</p>
<p>"There needs to be a total review of recruitment, employment of migrant
workers and the management of migration," said Fernandez urging the premier
to establish a ‘Special Commission on Migration’.</p>
<p>This should be empowered to review and map out a comprehensive policy for migration
management and to uphold migrant workers’ rights, she said.</p>
<p>It should further address the reasons why there are so many undocumented persons
– employers may not have renewed their work permits, women and children may
have been trafficked into prostitution or bonded labour, or there may have been
corruption in the issue of visas and work permits.</p>
<p>The government estimates there are 1.2 million registered foreign workers in
the country. Another 20,000 are refugees registered with the United Nations
High Commissioners for Refugees office in Kuala Lumpur.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com