Seven Burmese workers were deported amid a Labour Department's investigation into their complaints of ill-treatment by a Penang-based garment factory, claimed a human rights organisation today.

Aliran said the company terminated the workers's work permit on Tuesday and they were transported to Kuala Lumpur for deportation to Burma the next day.

"It is appalling that the employers were able to cancel the workers' work permits and get them deported even though the Labour Department was in the middle of investigations into the company's treatment of its migrant workers," lamented Aliran in a statement.