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 team to probe the management system and forced labor problem.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok recently said an RCI with experts in the field could help identify the root causes of the forced labor system, such as enablers, paper and money trails, and loopholes in the law.
The DAP vice-chairman also said the report on the RCI’s findings should be tabled and debated in the Dewan Rakyat.
Pereira told FMT the RCI would force the authorities to act on the “mess” created in the migrant workers management system.
He said the reports from the 2014 RCI on the immigrant issue in Sabah were more comprehensive than the one in 2019 by the Independent Committee on the Management of Foreign Workers, declassified in 2022, which he said was “too vague and did not go into the mechanics”.
CSOs can help RCI team if opportunities given
Irene Xavier of Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor said the RCI should investigate corruption in the management system as the country had been dealing with the issue by detaining migrant workers, who are victims and not the perpetrators of trafficking.
She also said investigations should be carried out on the living and working conditions of migrant workers, and civil society groups could assist the investigators should the opportunity arise.
“We already have a report calling for a binding policy on migrant workers, which we submitted to the last three human resources ministers,” she told FMT.
“We will once again submit (this report) to (minister) Steven Sim this year. We have put together our recommendations on matters from recruitment to working and living conditions to arrests and detentions.”
Urgent remedies needed
However, Pereira said the RCI’s agenda was long-term in nature, adding that Malaysia must urgently tend to the immediate needs of migrant workers and hold traffickers accountable.
“Let’s not forget that we already have the National Action Plan on Anti-Trafficking (Naptip), the National Action Plan on Forced Labour (NAPFL) and even a Malaysia Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP).
“The question is whether the civil servants have the willingness to implement the recommendations suggested by Naptip, NAPFL and DWCP in a comprehensive manner. Or are there conflicting interests preventing the reforms?”
‘RCI not a priority’
Migrant worker rights activist Andy Hall said setting up an RCI was not a priority, given the abundance of information from past reports on migrant worker management as well as the visibility of the forced labor problem to Malaysians.
He said the government should act to implement the options presented before it, such as parking migrant worker recruitment matters under the Prime Minister’s Office or forming a specific and permanent Cabinet committee.
“Suggesting another commission or another process of ascertaining views is just a delaying tactic. Enough is enough.
“Politicians and theorists can speak forever but we need action, not more meetings and words,” he said.
Source: Dineskumar Ragu (2024, Jan 27). Time to name and shame migrant worker abusers, say activists. FreeMalaysiaToday (FMT). https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/01/27/time-to-name-and-shame-migrant-worker-abusers-say-activists/
- 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 […]