PETALING JAYA | The human resources ministry will help over 100 Bangladeshis who have allegedly been duped by recruitment agents.
Minister Steven Sim told FMT that although the case involving the 171 migrant workers, who have since been arrested, was beyond the ministry’s jurisdiction, “we will aid the Bangladeshis on humanitarian grounds”.
The Bangladeshi workers were spotted marching towards the Bayu Damai police station, in a now viral video.
They were arrested on Wednesday.
Earlier this evening, Kota Tinggi police chief Hussin Zamora said the workers wanted to lodge a police report against the agents for not providing them the promised jobs.
Hussin said the migrant workers were not undocumented migrants as they had entered the country legally through recruitment agents, but had been unemployed for three to six months.
Sim told FMT that his ministry would summon the employers mentioned in the foreigners’ document and the involved agencies to assist them in the investigation later this week.
“We will not hesitate to take stern action against those found guilty,” he declared, emphasizing that the ministry would maintain the freeze on applications for migrant workers for now.
“I want to emphasize here that the recruitment of migrant workers is intended to support necessary local businesses and should not be viewed as a profit-making service.”
Sim said he would meet with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to discuss policy improvements related to migrant workers.
On Dec 16, Sim had similarly said that officials from his ministry would engage in discussions with the home ministry to determine which ministry would take responsibility for matters concerning migrant workers.
- MICSEA proposes flexible retirement option, warns of challenges
KUCHING | The Malaysian Industrial Commercial Services Employers Association (MICSEA) has proposed a flexible retirement framework that allows workers the option to retire earlier or remain in the workforce up to age 65. Its president YK Lai said the government should introduce clear retirement guidelines that take into account the physical demands faced by older […] - Tidak semua pekerja mampu bertahan sehingga 65 tahun -Persatuan Majikan
KUALA LUMPUR | Persatuan Majikan Perindustrian, Komersial dan Perkhidmatan Malaysia (MICSEA) bimbang terhadap kesan cadangan melanjutkan umur persaraan kepada 65 tahun sekiranya tidak dirancang secara teliti. Presidennya, YK Lai berkata, meskipun ramai warga emas kini sihat dan berdaya kerja walaupun telah melepasi usia persaraan, namun ia tidak bermakna semua sektor atau semua pekerja mampu bertahan […] - Stamp duty on employment contracts burdens businesses, says association
IPOH | The enforcement of stamp duty requirements for all employment contracts is an unnecessary financial and administrative burden impacting businesses, says an employers’ association. Malaysian Industrial, Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) president YK Lai said while they commend the Inland Revenue Board’s (LHDN) efforts to strengthen compliance with the Stamp Duty Audit Framework […] - A furniture factory fail to adhere to Act 446
JASIN | In a recent integrated enforcement operation led by the state Labour Department (JTK), a furniture factory in Sungai Rambai has come under scrutiny for multiple violations, exposing the inadequate living conditions provided to its foreign workers. The factory owner now faces potential legal consequences for offenses that range from lacking proper accommodation certificates […] - Time to name and shame migrant worker abusers, say activists
PETALING JAYA | An activist has welcomed the suggestion for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the migrant workers management system and forced labor problem, saying it would “name and shame” those responsible for migrant worker abuses. Adrian Pereira of North-South Initiative said setting up an RCI would mean having a more competent investigating […] - HR minister: 751 duped migrant workers file RM2m claim for unpaid wages
PUTRAJAYA | Human Resources Minister Steven Sim today said that the 751 foreign workers who were duped over non-existent jobs in Pengerang, Johor have filed a RM2.21 million claim. In a joint press conference with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at Kompleks Setia Perdana, today, he further shared that the claim was made […] - Malaysia’s Unemployment Drops to Pre-Pandemic Levels
KUALA LUMPUR | The unemployment rate for November 2023 is showing a decrease in number, dropping to 3.3 percent, with 569,000 jobless individuals—the same as pre-pandemic levels. This improvement from October’s 3.4 percent was reported in the latest Labour Force statistics by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir […] - RM50,000 fine if company docks wages during water cuts, says minister
BUTTERWORTH | Employers can be fined up to RM50,000 under the Employment Act 1955 if they dock their workers’ wages or force them to go on annual leave, should they opt to shutdown operations following the water supply disruption in Penang from Jan 10 to 14. Human resources minister Steven Sim said employers and employees can […] - Contractor licenses are misused to aid foreign worker syndicates, says source
PETALING JAYA | Company licenses are abused in various sectors, including construction, which is believed to be a tactic to bring in workers from source countries, especially Bangladesh. According to a source, certain groups were using valid contractor licenses issued by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) to facilitate the recruitment of foreign workers for […] - MICSEA Commends MOHR for its Commitment to Enhancing Governance and Tackling Bribery Risk with the Adoption of ABMS Guide—PRESS STATEMENT
Kuala Lumpur, 8 January 2024 – The Malaysian Industrial Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) fully supports the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR)’s decision to adopt the Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) guide in order to enhance governance and tackle bribery risk. As an organization committed to promoting ethical and transparent business practices, we believe that […] - MICSEA Supports Strict Action Against Employers Who Deceive Foreign Workers in Malaysia — PRESS STATEMENT
Kuala Lumpur, January 6, 2024 – The Malaysian Industrial Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) supports the decision of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong to take strict action against employers who deceive foreign workers into securing non-existent jobs in Pengerang, Johor. The joint statement issued […] - Industrial Court orders ‘vexatious litigant’ to pay ex-employer legal costs
KUALA LUMPUR | A former sales and marketing executive, described as a “serial vexatious litigant”, was ordered to pay her ex-employer RM3,000 in costs after the Industrial Court dismissed her claim of unfair dismissal from employment. Court chairman D Paramalingam said the cost award issued against Ching Suet Yeen “was a deterrent not only to […] - Adopting the Progressive Wage Model through a voluntary and pilot-based approach offers flexibility in implementation and the opportunity to refine the model for practicality and effectiveness – PRESS STATEMENT
Kuala Lumpur, December 2, 2023 – The Malaysian Industrial Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) expresses its gratitude to the Government for heeding the employers’ request to introduce the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) on a voluntary basis. This approach allows for flexible implementation, taking into consideration factors such as affordability, profitability, and industry competitiveness. The […] - The Association Echoes The Plea For Foreign Worker Management To Be Exclusively Entrusted To The Ministry Of Human Resources – PRESS STATEMENT
Kuala Lumpur, December 29, 2023 – The Malaysian Industrial Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) wholeheartedly supports the proposition made by YB Tuan M. Kula Segaran, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms), advocating for the exclusive placement of foreign worker management under the purview of the Ministry of Human Resources […] - Saifuddin: Home Ministry, HR Ministry committed to improving foreign worker management
KUALA LUMPUR | The Home Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry are committed to improving the management of foreign workers in the country, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic). He said that issues involving the shared scope of both ministries were discussed during his meeting with Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong […]