Ministries list joint actions against exploitative employers

Two ministries in charge of foreign workers' recruitment and placement in the country have announced a list of joint actions against exploitative acts by employers.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim cited the reported case in Pengerang, Johor, where 171 migrant workers from Bangladesh were arrested when they tried to report their employer for failure to provide promised jobs.

In a joint statement today, Saifuddin and Sim said both ministries take the matter seriously and will not compromise with any party involved in exploiting foreign workers leading to the practice of forced labour and human trafficking.

Citing the Pengerang case, the duo said the employer implicated will be blacklisted from applying for the employment of new foreign workers under Section 60K of the Labour Act 1955, in addition to being blacklisted from any dealing at the Immigration Department, including renewal of temporary working visit passes for existing employees.

“The employer will also face legal repercussions under Act 1959/63 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) as well as the Employment Act 1955 and the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990.

“The conditional approval letter, which has been issued to the employer, will be revoked and the levy payment will be returned.

“We will also be cancelling the employer’s remaining quota of foreign workers,” they said.

Inspection of employers, who have brought in migrant workers through the Foreign Worker Recruitment Relaxation Plan, will also be conducted, they said.

Short- and long-term actions

Saifuddin and Sim also added that several short and long-term actions, including improving existing acts and immediately implementing policies to empower the management of foreign workers with a focus on the rights and welfare of workers.

The ministries announced these actions after summoning the employer involved for a session attended by the National Security Council, the Johor State National Security Council, the Immigration Department, the Social Security Organisation, and the Construction Industry Development Board on Dec 28.

On Dec 20, 171 migrant workers from Bangladesh were taken into custody when they attempted to lodge a police report against their agent, who failed to find them employment after three months here.

On Dec 25, Sim said his ministry would summon the agency involved in recruiting the migrant workers.

Sim told Malaysiakini that further investigations would be conducted on the agency responsible.

At that time, Sim said he would meet Saifuddin to improve policies related to migrant workers.

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