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?
However, investigations by the Immigration department showed that the workers
were unhappy as they had not given “easy jobs” as promised by their
agent in India.
<p>Enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed said the workers were told that they
would be packing boxes. </p>
<p>“But when they arrived here, they had to unload and load heavy crates,”
he said, adding that the workers entered the country legally. </p>
<p>Worker Ramagira Bhaskar, 22, said he paid an agent in India one lakh (RM8,171)
to work in Malaysia. </p>
<p>“We have been here at the department since Tuesday. We want the company
to pay us our back wages,” he said, adding that many of them were from
Punjab, Hyderabad and Bihar. </p>
<p>“The company is a freight forwarder in Port Klang and it has our approval
to bring in 190 foreign workers from India and Pakistan. So far, they have brought
in 178 workers,” he said. </p>
<p>Ishak said the department had asked the company to resolve the matter with
the workers. </p>
<p>A representative of the company, known only as Ghani, said the company would
meet Immigration officers over the matter.
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