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 Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said there had been many cases of those
with permits to work here as housemaids were found to be working at food outlets,
including hawker centres.
<p>This, he said was against the law as they were brought in as housemaids and
not commercial workers. </p>
<p>"They are legal under the category of housemaids but it is against the
law for them to work at hawker centres under the Immigration Act 2002. They
are not supposed to work outside the house. </p>
<p>"Anyone found still doing this after Feb 28 will be detained, charged
and sent back. Action will also be taken against the employers," he said
after attending MCA’s 56th anniversary celebrations here yesterday. </p>
<p>However, Tan said employers could still allow such employees to work at the
outlets if they applied to change their permits to commercial workers. </p>
<p>"This was agreed during a meeting between the Malaysian Hawkers Association
and Home Minister (Datuk Azmi Khalid) on Saturday. </p>
<p>"There is no deadline for the employers but they should do it quickly
or face action. The operations begin on March 1.” </p>
<p>He said currently it was estimated that about 50% of the 10,000 workers working
at such outlets nationwide were abusing their work permits. </p>
<p>He said the association had said, during the meeting, that they needed about
15,000 workers to fill in vacancies. </p>
<p>Tan said one reason for such abuse was because the levy on commercial workers
was higher than for housemaids. </p>
<p>On the operation to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, Tan said it was all
systems go. </p>
<p>He said the Rela and Rukun Tetangga members enlisted to help in the operations
were prepared. </p>
<p>"There are about 90 buses and trucks to take them to the detention centres.
We are well prepared and expect to catch between 600,000 and 800,000 illegal
workers. </p>
<p>"Operations are concentrated in areas like the Klang Valley, Penang, Perak
and Johor." </p>
<p>Tan said the number of illegal workers who had applied to re-enter Malaysia
legally had increased, totalling 40,000 to date.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com