LETTERS: A total of 104 Bangladeshi migrant workers were exploited in Cheras since arriving last November, as reported by labour rights activist Andy Hall.
They were promised high-paying jobs and decent facilities, paid exorbitant recruitment fees of up to RM21,700, only to face dire conditions and maltreatment.
Some workers claimed they went without food for up to four days after inquiring about their job situation. Their passports were confiscated upon arrival, leaving the labourers vulnerable to further exploitation.
The authorities must be proactive in tracking down unscrupulous employers and the agents facilitating the recruitment of migrant workers.
This includes enforcing existing laws, such as Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act 1966, which prohibits employers from holding onto passports, except for specific reasons like visa renewal.
Recent amendments to the Employment Act, effective since January 2023, require employers to seek prior approval from the director-general of labour before hiring foreign employees.
These changes aim to ensure the employer's integrity, address concerns related to human trafficking, forced labour and compliance with employment standards.
However, the case in Cheras highlights the urgency of enforcing these regulations rigorously. Companies must adhere to new requirements, and the government must penalise non-compliance with fines up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
It is imperative that the government takes swift and proactive actions against exploitative employers. The new requirements must be enforced to protect vulnerable migrant workers from unscrupulous practices.
SHAHRIZAL MIZANI
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times