Vietnamese authorities are investigating allegations that six Vietnamese women working in Malaysia were beaten by their boss, an official said.

The six, working for a food company in Johor Baru, were allegedly beaten by their boss on Tuesday, said Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, deputy head of Vietnam's department on labourers working abroad.

"We are discussing with relevant local authorities to define the levels of injuries of the victims ... and also the reasons for the beating," he said yesterday.

The state-run Lao Dong newspaper quoted Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, director of AIC labour export company as saying the women were beaten after taking boyfriends to their rooms, violating regulations.

Transferred

The six women could later be transferred to a different company in Malaysia, she said.

More Vietnamese have been taking jobs abroad in recent years to boost income as salaries in Vietnam are around US$40 a month.

Last year, reports said the country sent abroad about 70,000 labourers, mostly to countries like Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan.