GEORGE TOWN: Declaring an all-out war on forced labour, Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said 10 companies are being investigated over labour law violations, including the use of forced labour.
He said the ministry had also dragged a local company to court with 42 charges, including labour law violations, to prove it means business. He, however, did not name the company.
“We are committed to fighting against forced labour. We are planning more laws to give teeth to the fight against forced labour, which will be approved in Parliament next month after deliberation by the Cabinet.
“With indications that the United States might impose a ban on products made by forced labour from around the world, there is fear that other advanced economies might follow suit. Can you imagine what will happen if we cannot export to other countries at all?
“As such, employers must obey labour laws or we will risk the US’ sanctions under the influential annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report,” he told newsmen today. Malaysia is currently on the Tier 2 watchlist.
Kulasegaran said while many companies complied with labour laws, some were “delinquents“, practising aspects of forced labour.
He said his ministry would take the necessary action, as its net covers a big area, including protection of foreign workers.
“It is no use when we use foreign labour to make goods and people do not buy them.
“For too long, we have been condoning the ‘horrible acts’ of forced labour and witnessed human trafficking incidents such as that uncovered in Wang Kelian, Perlis, in 2015,” he added.
Meanwhile, the minister said the government would adopt the best practices by the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), the world’s largest industry coalition, in countering forced labour.
“On our part, we are considering a self-regulating mechanism to look into forced labour and other violations, due to lack of enforcement officers to keep tabs on this.
“Through a National Audit Compliance system, companies practising self-regulation will be checked from time to time,” he said, vowing swift justice against those who practised forced labour.