KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is questioning the alleged double standards of the police for arresting three Bangladeshi workers who lodged a report against their employer.
PSM workers bureau head M. Sivaranjani today said there was no criminal action taken against the employer, who did not provide work, withheld their passports and did not pay their salaries.
"Yet the police arrested the three leaders (Bangladeshi workers who lodged the report). They also obtained a four-day remand against them for two charges.
"Activists believe these are trumped up and fabricated allegations to silence the remaining workers, who now live in fear of arrest and further intimidation."
Sivaranjani said the three men had filed a police report and a labour report against their employer.
She added that the matter had also been raised with the Labour Department and the human resources minister.
The three were arrested after a report was lodged by another worker, assisted by the employer, against them.
"This whole turn of events seems suspicious."
The trio were among the 160 workers from Bangladesh brought into Malaysia under a work permit, and were promised a job in the company and a RM1,500 salary.
However, they have not gotten any work or salary since they entered Malaysia, and remain jobless.
Sivaranjani said: "Their passports are withheld by the employer. The employer forced and threatened the workers to pay RM6,000 to get back their passports, and some had to pay the amount."
She said PSM had helped a few workers lodge a complaint with the Subang Jaya Labour Department on Jan 4, and had reached out to the human resources minister's office on Jan 30.
She added that PSM had then been directed to the Labour Department headquarters in Putrajaya.
"On March 7, we were told by an officer that the department had given two options to the employer: to send the employees back, or look for new employers for them.
"Also, the employer was directed to pay the workers their wages from the date they were brought into Malaysia.
"PSM calls on the police to immediately release the three workers on police bail, and ensure that the passports are returned to the workers.
"We also call on the human resources minister to hasten the investigation and ensure the workers get their backdated wages as well as new employment, and ensure that the workers are protected."