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?
Home Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid said the Government wanted them to work but
only if they legalised themselves as this was the only way for them to stay
protected while earning a living in the country.
“We will also allow them to pay their levies a month after they return
as legalised workers. Now they must pay before entering the country,” Azmi
told a press conference yesterday.
He said Malaysia wanted to protect them, as many mistreated workers had no
avenues to address their plight.
“Leave on your own free will, come back legalised and you can work in
all job sectors.”
Azmi said the Government would not encourage employing fresh foreign workers
as they were giving priority to legalising those who had left during the amnesty
period.
“The illegals must negotiate with their agents and employers on how to
come back as legalised workers,” he said.
In the latest voluntarily departure list, 350,000 left since the amnesty was
granted, 87% of them Indonesians followed by Indians, Bangladeshis, Myanmars,
Filipinos, Pakistanis and Nepalese and the figure was expected to rise to 400,000
soon.
In Kuala Lumpur, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said it would
only take two days to legalise the workers at the 14 centres set up by the Indonesian
government in its country.
“Indonesia, with whom we have an agreement, has agreed to speed up the
process whereby these illegal workers can be legalised within two days at any
of the centres.
“Our officers through the Labour Department will continue to contact employers
especially factory and small- and medium-sized enterprises owners to advise
them to get their illegal workers to go to these centres as soon as possible.
“I’m confident that if the employers work together, we can overcome this
problem,” he said after opening the Chinese New Year calligraphy contest
at Mutiara Complex in Jalan Ipoh here yesterday.
Malaysian officials, he said, would also be placed at the 14 centres, which
included those in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and Pontianak, to ensure that the
process ran smoothly. The centres had started operations about a month ago,
he said.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com