KUALA LUMPUR: The stigma of being a former prisoner and having served time in prison does not go away, making it almost impossible for an ex-convict to land himself a good job.
Most employers are reluctant to employ workers with a “dark” past because of trust issues and the negative perception linked to their past. This often leaves them having to settle for simple jobs with low wages.
Speaking to the New Straits Times, a 38-year-old former convict, who wanted to be known only as Kamal, said he had no job for almost two years after being released, before he decided to open his own workshop.
Before being imprisoned, Kamal was an automotive technician at a well-known company in Petaling Jaya and was earning about RM5,000 a month.
Then he made the biggest mistake of his life. He and his friends robbed a goldsmith.
“That one stupid move changed my entire life. It not only affected me, but my whole family, especially my wife of just nine months at that time.
“I was sentenced to seven years’ jail and was released about three years ago. I then went back to my old company hoping to have my job reinstated, but they said it was company policy not to hire anyone with a criminal record.”
Kamal said even though he had the skills and knowledge, companies were not willing to offer him a job for that one reason.
“For two years, I tried looking for work in the automotive industry. Some companies did offer me a job, but they were not willing to pay anything more than RM2,000.
“Due to financial problems and out of desperation, I did take on a job for RM1,800 in Jalan Kuching, but I couldn’t stay there long because of back-biting and the stigma when others came to know about my history.”
Kamal said he was frustrated with the treatment he received, so he decided to open his own workshop with some financial help from his in-laws.
He is now back to earning about RM4,000 to RM5,500 a month.
He operates his workshop alone and hires odd-job workers when needed.
“I call on the government to conduct more awareness campaigns to educate and change the public’s negative perception of ex-convicts. The relevant minister can ask companies to hire ex-convicts 100 times, but that won’t have any effect unless the public mindset and perception of former prisoners is first corrected.
“Regardless of 100 good things an ex-convict may do, he will still be judged for that one place he’s been — prison,” he said.
Kamal said he felt sorry for others who may not be as lucky as he was to have family support.
“Anywhere you go, there are people or employers who judge you. There are few out there who are willing to take you in no matter how good you are at your job.
“Even if you are lucky enough to get a job, you could be subjected to malicious gossip and verbal abuse by colleagues. It is certainly not easy for an ex-convict to be employed in the corporate environment.”
Adding to that, said Kamal, government agencies, especially the Prisons Department, should also consider reviewing the classes or workshops they conduct for prisoners while they are inside.
“In-prison classes like woodworking don’t do any good for us when we get out. It would be more useful to teach new technology, such as the ‘WhatsApp’ application, which was something alien to me when I was released,” he added.
Kamal said the government could look into setting up a special body or council to assess prisoners and later use the information to find suitable jobs for them when they are about to be released.