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?
IPS
News
Anil Netto
PENANG, Malaysia, Mar 1 (IPS) – The diplomatic flap
over undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia and the failure by errant Malaysian
employers to settle wages due to them, before a crackdown that began on Mar. 1,
could have been avoided had these workers been encouraged to join local trade
unions.
Wahyu Susilo
Migrant CARE
Indonesian Association for Sovereign Migrant Workers
The period from the second half of 2004 through to the beginning of 2005 was
a vulnerable time for Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, who were besieged
with uncertainties. The Malaysian government had already warned in July 2004
that mass deportations of undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia would again
be carried out based on its Immigration Act of 2002.
Malaysiakini.com
Muda Mohd Noor
Feb 14, 05 7:31pm
Kemasukan besar-besaran pekerja asing ke dalam pasaran buruh negara ini ada
kaitan dengan pihak tertentu yang mengaut keuntungan daripada mereka, terutama
yang datang secara haram.
Malaysiakini.com
Feb 14, 05 6:41pm
Malaysia akan mengambil tindakan lebih tegas terhadap pendatang tanpa izin
mulai 1 Mac ini, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi selepas
mengadakan rundingan dengan Presiden Indonesia hari ini.
29 January 2005
Since July 2004, the Malaysian Government has been preparing to launch a massive
crackdown on undocumented migrants. This crackdown will involve law enforcement
agencies (The Police and Immigration authorities) as well as members of the
public (RELA and Rukun Tetangga personnel). The Malaysian Government has announced
its intention to deport more than 1 million undocumented migrants through these
operations.
A host of tactics is often used to deny workers their
right to collective bargaining
by K George
Aliran Monthly 2004:7
Collective bargaining is the fundamental and primary function of workers’
associations, which are commonly known as trade unions all over the world. The
International Labour Organisation(ILO), an agency of the United Nations(UN),
was established in 1919. The ILO is commited to protecting the rights of workers,
including the right to collective bargaining. Its annual conference is attended
by two delegates each from every government and one delegate each representing
the workers’ and employers’ organisations of the respective countries.
(BM) Though they are not political parties, trade unions are political organisations
by K George
Aliran Monthly 2004:1
Is it absolutely necessary that trade unions should be involved in politics?
There are people these days who argue that trade unions must keep out of politics.
They say so either out of ignorance or to mislead their audience. This article
aims to establish the importance of the trade union involvement in politics.
First, let me explain briefly how trade unions came into existence.
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