Tenaganita: Non-existent jobs for migrant workers also exploitation

Summary

• Migrant rights group Tenaganita calls for labour law protection for migrant workers who have been falsely promised jobs before arriving in Malaysia.

• Tenaganita executive director Glorene Das claims Labour Department does not accept complaints by these migrants as there has been no exploitation without jobs.

Beyond advocating for the rights of migrant workers employed in various Malaysian industries, Tenaganita’s annual International Migrants Day also highlighted exploitation from false promises of non-existent jobs.

Tenaganita executive director Glorene Das stressed that workers who were falsely promised jobs should also be protected by local labour laws.

“They are not undocumented. They travelled here with valid documents, issued by their countries.

“But because of what turned out to be non-existing jobs, they are trapped in a labour trafficking situation marked by abusive conditions.

“Many have also been arrested, detained, and deported,” Glorene (above) told a press conference at Tenaganita’s office in Petaling Jaya attended by at least 10 stranded Bangladeshi workers who were promised employment

‘Labour Dept throws out complaints’

Tenaganita case worker Joseph Paul Maliamauv spoke to two of the migrants, who revealed they arrived in Malaysia in June last year with valid work permits, but the promised jobs and salaries were nowhere to be found.

Through an interpreter, the duo shared they each paid over RM20,000 in recruitment fees for their journey here, but the appointed agent did not follow through with a promise to place them with an employer.

“As far as the Labour Department is concerned, they do not want to take on such cases. Whenever possible, they will throw the complaints out,” said Joseph.

“The excuse given is that while the migrants have arrived here, they have yet to start working and so the (labour) exploitation has not happened yet.

“They (Labour Department) do not see being left stranded here as a form of exploitation,” said the veteran migrant activist. 

According to Tenaganita, migrant workers were also asked by the Labour Department to produce and pay for interpreters who charge up to RM500 or more per day.

‘What happens to workers while action pending?’

As for complaints accepted by the Labour Department, Glorene said progress has been slow, including for claiming unpaid wages and benefits.

“In some cases, it can take anywhere between six months and one year just for the case to be mentioned.

“In the meantime, what happens to the workers?” she questioned.

Moving forward, Tenaganita in its annual call urged the government to ensure that all the affected workers are guaranteed proper and secure employment.

Further, the group seeks assurance that all the affected workers, including those who have become undocumented, do not face arbitrary arrests, detention, or deportation.

They added that the workers must also be guaranteed access to transparent and accessible grievance mechanisms for redresses. 

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