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?
Yesterday, the Federal Court upheld the findings of lower courts which had
ruled in their favour and ordered Prai-based Chin Well Fasteners Co Sdn Bhd
to pay up.
<p>Each worker is entitled to between RM8,000 and RM25,000, depending on his length
of service.</p>
<p>They sued the company for breach of contract in 2003.</p>
<p>They claimed the company paid them only RM350 a month although their contract
stated that their basic salary would be RM750 plus benefits.</p>
<p>The High Court ruled in their favour the same year and ordered the company
to pay each of them a minimum monthly salary of RM750.</p>
<p>Chin Well appealed to the Court of Appeal and lost.</p>
<p>The matter was taken to the Federal Court and Federal Court judges Datuk Abdul
Hamid Mohamad, Datuk Alauddin Mohd Sheriff and Datuk Arifin Zakaria unanimously
upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision.</p>
<p>Fifteen of the workers are now working in restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. The
rest have left the country.</p>
<p>Among those present at the court yesterday were T.S. Sreegithe, 29, and R.
Manikaraf, 28.</p>
<p>Sreegithe, who would get about RM12,000, was visibly excited.</p>
<p>"I am a relieved man. I just cannot wait to take my wife out for a proper
dinner," he said.</p>
<p>Manikaraf said he had been struggling to make ends meet when the company reneged
on its promise and paid him just RM350.</p>
<p>The workers were represented by Jessica Ram Binwani and A. Theivanai while
Chin Well was represented by Datuk Ghazi Ishak and Ong Kheng Leong.</p>
<p>Chin Well Fasteners, which makes fastening products, is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of public-listed company Chin Well Holdings Berhad.
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