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?
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar said in 2004, the Malaysian High Commission in the island republic received over 500 complaints and more than 1,000 the following year.
<P>"The form
of abuse varies, including Muslims being asked to work at places which are not
halal," he said when winding up the debate on the royal address here today.</P><P>Abdul
Rahman said the ministry had sent its officers for talks with Singapore’s Labour
Ministry to solve the problems.</P><P>"We are monitoring the situation,"
he added.</P><P>He said the ministry had also decided to appoint an attache at
the Malaysian embassies to address the problems, with Singapore and Jakarta on
June 1 followed by Dubai, Chennai, Tokyo, London and Ho Chi Minh City in January
next year.</P><P>Earlier, Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) had asked for the
ministry’s rationale in appointing its attaches since the task of looking after
the welfare of Malaysian workers abroad could be carried out by the Malaysian
ambassadors or high commissioners in the countries involved.</P><P>On Malaysian
experts and professionals working abroad, Abdul Rahman said efforts made by the
government to entice them to return had some encouraging response.</P><P>"In
2005, we received only about 200 applications, but with various incentives offered,
we have now received more than 1,000 applications," he added.</P><P>He said
there were currently about 30,000 Malaysian experts and professionals working
in foreign countries.</P><P>"Actually, it is not a loss to us because they
too contribute to Malaysia’s economy by sending back their income," he said
in reply to Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong).</P><P>On foreign workers in the country,
Abdul Rahman said they numbered more than 1.8 million now with the majority of
them in the manufacturing, plantation, domestic help, construction, service and
agriculture sectors.</P><P>"Many foreign nationals are interested to work
in Malaysia because they regard Malaysia as a haven to earn a living," he
added. — BERNAMA</P><P><I>Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=255247</I>
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