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?
Delegates said the issues had not been adequately addressed and called on the
Rural Development Ministry to categorise plantation workers as poor for them
to be included in poverty-eradication programmes.
<p>Calls were also made to the Human Resources Ministry to ensure displaced estate
and mining workers are given alternative housing, along with land for cultivation.
</p>
<p>Delegates also pointed out that the community was not given adequate job opportunities
in the civil service. </p>
<p>On education, they welcomed the RM64.84mil allocated under the Ninth Malaysia
Plan to rebuild and renovate 152 fully-aided Tamil schools but wanted funds
for partially-aided schools which were in a state of disrepair and therefore
unsafe for occupation. </p>
<p>Calls were also made for a foundation programme for students without the minimum
entry qualifications to enter skills training institutions. </p>
<p>Education Ministry parliamentary secretary Komala Krishnamoorthy said there
had been a shortage of 183 teachers in Tamil schools around the country but
100 of the posts had been filled. </p>
<p>President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu interjected and asked whether non-Tamils
could be brought in as a temporary measure. </p>
<p>The delegates, however, were not agreeable as they wanted Tamil schools to
remain in their original form. </p>
<p>Housing and Local Government Ministry parliamentary secretary Dr S. Subramaniam
urged the state government to look into the move to close scrap metal yards
in Selangor.
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