I refer to the report Fong: Foreign workers get equal protection .

The Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn is obviously out of touch with the realities of the lives of migrant workers. He is either misinformed or has little understanding of the protection afforded towards migrant workers.

Let me spell it out to you, Datuk, although WAO and other non-governmental organisations have been knocking on your doors many times on this issue. Let me explain once again.

Datuk, if a migrant worker is abused, he/she would have to lodge a police report to seek redress. The migrant worker's employer would obviously cancel the work permit and so the migrant worker would then have to apply for a monthly special pass which costs RM100 per month in order to stay in the country legally and await resolution of the case against the employer.

But mind you, Datuk, the migrant worker is not allowed to work as the Employments (Restriction Exemption ) Order 1972 prohibits them from working. So how do we Malaysians expect the migrant worker to pursue his/her claim as financially it would be burdensome as the migrant worker would have not only to pay RM100 per month but also have to somehow look for money for his/her living expenses.

Added to this, many migrant workers return to their country of origin empty-handed as some employers take advantage of the situation by engineering postponement of cases. Priority is also not given by courts unless it is highlighted in the media.

Now Datuk, is this the equal protection that you were highlighting? Surely you must concede that this is obviously a gross injustice to any human being?

Our Federal Constitution in Article 8 provides for the equal protection of all individuals. This translates as equal protection to Malaysians and non-Malaysians. Let us not just pay lip-service to its meaning but make it a reality .

Datuk, I do hope to have corrected your understanding on this issue and will now understand why employers take advantage of the situation .

The writer is president, Women's Aid Organisation.